CA Governor proposes big cuts to college physical education

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed trimming state money for physical education courses at community colleges as a result of the budget shortfall.

Under the governor's proposal, P.E. classes would be funded as noncredit courses, resulting in a 40 percent cut in state funding. The plan, unveiled in his revised budget this month, would cut millions of dollars from the budgets of some college districts and eliminate numerous part time teaching positions.

Schwarzenegger's proposal comes as he tries to cut billions from the state budget.

Peaceful Playgrounds Right To Recess Campaign

Now is the time to SAVE RECESS. Before the school year schedule is set, let authorities know that kids have a right to recess. Our new materials can help you to make the case for the importance of recess.

Experts agree that playtime can be just as vital as classroom time to a child's social, emotional and educational development. Despite mounting evidence that kids need an outlet to blow off steam, learn to interact with others and get the exercise they need, nearly 40 percent of American elementary schools have either eliminated or are considering eliminating recess.

Due to school budget cuts and an increased focus on academic standards, millions of American schoolchildren may miss out on unstructured play with their peers including hopscotch, tag, kickball or jump rope.

Recess also functions successfully as an established school-based activity and should be carefully considered as part of any school health and wellness policy.

A survey conducted by the PTA showed that nine out of 10 teachers say recess and the free time spent with peers is an important part of the school day and is crucial to a child's social and emotional development.

Free Campaign Toolbox Package

You can have the Peaceful Playgrounds Right to Recess Campaign Toolbox sent directly to your email box. The campaign toolbox contains a full PowerPoint presentation and speakers notes along with all research and documents to support daily, unstructured physical activity during school hours.

Please help us spread the word that these resources are now available.

Let your community know that children have the Right to Recess!

Playgrounds as obesity weapon: Master Planning for Health

The Rand Research Corporation released a study indicating that a "nearly free" resource in the childhood obesity crisis is the local school park or playground. The study found that "girls who live farther than a half-mile from a school playground have a 3-percent higher body mass index than girls who do have playgrounds within a half mile of where they live."

The impact of the built environment on helping children and youths move more, eat well, stay healthy,so that they can do their best in school and in life is part of The City Project initiative on environmental health.

The City Project recommendations for government are revealed in The Built Environment: Designing Communities to Promote Physical Activity in Children article which will be published later this month in PEDIATRICS.

Indoor playgrounds are growing. It seems odd just when we're hearing more and more research about the importance of children playing outside.

A study by Oliver Pergams of the University of Illinois-Chicago and Patricia Zaradic of the Environmental Leadership Program finds that park visits and applications to hunt, camp and fish in US National parks have decreased between 18 and 25 percent in the last twenty years.

It only takes listening to a 5th grader to find out why. “I like to play indoors better ’cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.”-that's what a suburban fifth grader said to Richard Louv, author of "Leave no Child Inside" in Orion Magazine.

Check out our featured articles page for more information on similar topics to playing outside including:
Why Play?
Countdown to Good Health: 5-4-3-2-1 Go
Recess is on the Upswing

Low-Cost High-Activity Playgrounds

Playing at School

For more on the Peaceful Playgrounds visit www.peacefulplaygrounds.com

The video includes a view of a playground marking called Multi-Use Circle. Click to view additional school playground stencil packages to enhance children's game choices.

Greater Good Shares "Play to be happy"

The obesity epidemic has spurred many parents to try to get their kids to spend less time in front of the TV or computer and more time running around outside. But a new study suggests that kids who exercise aren’t only in better physical shape; they’re happier, too.

Canadian researcher Mark Holder and colleagues asked 375 children, ages 8-12, about what they did for fun, paying special attention to the amount of time the kids said they spent in “active” leisure activities—physical activities such as sports and exercise—or “passive” activities, such as watching TV, talking on the phone, or playing on the computer or with videogames.

Holder found that the more kids engaged in active leisure, and the more important active leisure was to them, the happier they were and the more positive they felt about themselves.

Though their results don’t necessarily prove that active leisure directly increases kids’ happiness, Holder and his colleagues theorize that physical activity may make kids happier because it provides opportunities both to boost self-confidence and to develop stronger social relationships, which are key to happiness. While it’s possible that other activities that reduce kids’ “screen time,” such as the creative arts, may provide similar benefits, this study gives parents yet another reason to encourage kids to go outside and play.

From the Greater Good Magazine

Bullying Prevention: An informative article for parents

Many adults know that secondary school is a time of change but they may not understand the full extent of the many challenges kids face.

During this transition from childhood to adolescence, secondary schoolers begin to place more importance on making friends and being part of a group. They also start to check out how other kids act, look, sound, and dress. Some kids may seem to be searching for a reason to tease or torment another student.

Alone or as part of a group, youth can take part in bullying. In a growing number of incidences, the term "bully" includes the children who watch the bullying occur - even if they don't actively participate. Witnessing bullying behavior can be defined as condoning it.

Other bullying prevention topics include: Why do kids bully? Where do kids bully? Do girls bully? What are the signs of being bullied? What if my child's being bullied? Bully-free at home. How to talk with a child that's being bullied.

Peaceful Playgrounds: May Grants Newsletter Released

We encourage you to visit the Peaceful Playgrounds grants page of our website for grant writing materials and templates. The grants page provides templates to use for Corporate or Foundation Grants. Download a copy of our Program Grant Writing Template and get a head start on writing a successful proposal for implementing the Peaceful Playgrounds Program at your school.

This month's newsletter provides information on:

Head Start Body Start Play Space Grants and Webinar

Pay it Forward Mini-grants

CVS Caremark Community Grants

KaBoom Community Partnerships


May Peaceful Playgrounds Grants Newsletter

Recess as Good as Gym Class in Terms of Health Impact

"Researchers at the University of Exeter have found that kids' natural short bursts of play energy contribute just as much to a healthy lifestyle as longer bouts of organized exercise, such as gym class," according to sports columnist Dan Peterson.

Researchers, Michelle Stone and Roger Eston of Exeter's School of Sport and Health Sciences reported their findings in the April edition of the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity.

However, they hestitate to say that more recess and less physical education in our schools is the way without further research. Maybe, according to Stone, "If future research backs up our findings, we would do better to encourage young children to do what they do naturally, rather than trying to enforce long exercise sessions on them. This could be a useful way of improving enjoyment and sustainability of healthy physical activity levels in childhood."

More on Recess As Good As.........

Free Webinar - Head Start Body Start Play Space Grants

Join us as we walk you through the grant writing process so you can get the new Head Start Body Start Play Space you deserve for your center.

We’ll cover the guidelines for proposal preparation and instructions including: conducting a Play Space Assessment, how to develop a budget, gathering a support team, project evaluation, how to identify potential media outlets in your area and writing press releases that draw attention to your new Head Start Body Start Playground project.

Free Head Start Body Start Play Space Webinar!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 10:00 AM PST - Free registration for this date!
Thursday, June 4, 2009 - 1:00 PM PST - Free registration for this date!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 1:00 PM PST - Free registration for this date!
ALL TIMES ARE PACIFIC STANDARD TIME ZONE

Innovative Approaches Needed to Combat Childhood Obesity

“While these successes are significant, working with one community, one school, or one childcare provider at a time is not going to end the obesity epidemic,” said First Lady of New York, Michelle Paterson of programs in New York. “We need federal policies, standards, regulations and commitments that help make the healthy option the easy choice for New Yorkers and all Americans.”

Time Magazine Article Questions Value of PE

In case you missed it, this week Time Magazine has an article entitled, "Gym Class: Why kids' exercise matters less than we think." The article cites the information from last weeks blog post entitled, "Physical Activity : Is it influenced by Physical Education?"

The study and Time article questioned the value of physical education as an obesity intervention based on the research finding that the total weekly physical activity among children attending different schools was much the same despite large differences in the amount of time allocated to PE.

The researchers propose it's not the environment that drives physical activity levels in children, but some form of central control in the brain similar to appetite – an 'activitystat'.

Short bursts of physical activity impacts children's health

Research indicates that a child who accumulated short bursts of moderate or vigorous exercise throughout the day was just as healthy as a child who did a similar amount of activity over longer sessions.

Published in the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, the study focused on 47 boys, aged between eight and ten, the majority of whom were all in good health and within a healthy weight range. The results highlighted that the associations between children's activity and health were similar regardless of how the child accumulated the activity.

Play Outside Guide

Grandparents.com is offering a free guide called, "Go outside and play!" It is a free download from their website. The guide has suggestions for fun activites that grandparents can do with grand kids.

Some activity settings include: Backyard afternoons, playgrounds, fund in the field, in touch with nature, & neighborhood action.

Lack of physical activity in top 10 children's health concerns list.

Children's lack of physical activity was one of the top 10 health concerns in 2008, according to the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health.

Accordingly some parents are turning to Kids Fitness Clubs offered through fitness centers and YMCA's. Membership in the Kids Fitness Club costs in the neighborhood of $100 for every eight sessions. It remains to be seen if parents are turning to these pay for service alternatives because of the cut backs in physical education. According to a 2006 School Health Policies and Programs Study conducted by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 3.8 percent of elementary schools supplied daily physical education or 150 minutes of physical education each week. Some relief from private pay fitness clubs may come from Passage of The FIT (Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids) Act which is currently being considered by Congress. The act primarily proposes implementation of quality nutritional and organized physical education and physical activity programs in schools.

An opportunity to contact your legislator is underway for those readers interested in supporting the Fit Kids Act (FIT). Link to Legislator and sample letter.

The FIT Kids Act makes sure that parents know about the quality and quantity of physical education in their children’s schools. The Act would further ensure appropriate professional development for health and physical education teachers. And it would fund research to examine the link between children’s health and their academic achievement, and recommend effective ways to combat childhood obesity and improve healthy living and physical activity.

Helpful resources for improving physical education.
Physical Education Program Checklist
Physical Education and California Schools: A Policy Brief

Appropriate Practice For Elementary Physical Education

Statewide fitness testing required for Georgia schools

Georgia Approves Annual Physical Fitness Assessments for Students

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) has approved a measure that will require students in Georgia schools to undergo annual fitness assessments, the Macon Telegraph reports.

New Policy Guide for Health, Physical Education, Nutrition and Physical Activity

The National Association of State School Boards released a policy guide on Preventing Childhood Obesity.

Schools have many powerful tools at their disposal to serve as one of the primary agents to address the obesity crisis. Schools access to children is unique as children spend a significant amount of their day in school. The ability to educate and reinforce healthy behaviors provides the opportunity for schools to effect the community at large.

The policy guide is based on the National Association of State School Boards of Education's companion document: Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn.

Peaceful Playgrounds May Webinars

How to have a peaceful playground. Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - 12:00 PM (Noon) PST

Recess Before Lunch- 5 Steps to Success Friday, May 22 2009 - 10:00 AM PST

Grant Writing For Beginners Thursday, May 21, 2009 - 12:00 PM (Noon) PST

Physical Activity : Is it influenced by Physical Education?

A study was released yesterday which presented findings which are contradictory to previous studies on physical activity interventions. Previously research has focused on the assumption that creating more opportunity for children to be active – by providing more playgrounds, sports facilities and more physical education time in schools – will mean more physical active children.

Scientists, who presented their research Thursday at the European Congress on Obesity, found that the total weekly physical activity among children attending different schools was much the same despite large differences in the amount of time allocated to PE. The researchers propose it's not the environment that drives physical activity levels in children, but some form of central control in the brain similar to appetite – an 'activitystat'.

Read more on Study finds children's activity levels not influenced by more PE time in school

National Teacher Day: Poll Finds Teachers Appreciate Just a Simple Thank-You

Poll shows teachers want simple thank you.

Last year, NEA conducted an online poll asking teachers what kind of gift would most make them feel appreciated. The answer? A simple "thank you," according to nearly half (48%) of all respondents.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Unlike assembly lines that discard materials that can't guarantee a predetermined uniform result, public schools don't discard any child. Children can come hungry or filthy; they can speak English or Spanish or Vietnamese or Hmong; they can be athletic or clumsy, artistic or musical; they can be black or white, Latino or Asian; they can be gay or straight, rich or poor; Muslim or Jewish or Christian or Hindu or atheist. They can know a lot or a little. In public schools, teachers take students as they are, respect all as they are, and promise to teach all, as they are. It might be the plaque on the Statue of Liberty that says, ‘Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free' but it's public schools that live that message daily."
-Kylene Beers, president, National Council of Teachers of English
http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Press/Beers.pdf

Healthy Food, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

by Andrea Bossenmeyer

Childhood obesity has taken center stage as children’s #1 health problem. Peaceful Playgrounds champions the efforts of individuals and organizations who actively work towards creating healthy bodies and minds. One such person we’d like to spotlight as a health advocate is Alice Waters.

She is known in the school community as the person behind, "The Edible Schoolyard" which demonstrates the transformative power of growing, cooking, and sharing food. It was created in an effort to bring kids into a new relationship with food.

At Ms. Waters’ pilot school, Martin Luther King Middle School, they grow the food right on the school grounds, followed by a cooking lesson on how to prepare the food they’ve grown. For many students, it’s the first time they’ve eaten fresh organic foods.

More on The Edible School Yard