Play Shaper is a national professional development program that helps the people who plan, design, build and manage our communities to understand the importance of play and their role in creating child-friendly public spaces.

For more information visit the Play Shaper website.

Play Shaper is a national partnership run by Play England with SkillsActive and Playwork Partnerships

Take a moment to view the Play Shaper video on the importance of creatin…

How long will the paint last on my playground?

In typically sunny areas like California, where it rarely rains approx 5-7 years.
In typically rainy & snowy areas anywhere from 3-5 years. If you are putting salt down or snow plowing/shoveling the area...It can cause some paint removal and may need to be touched-up annually.

Tips for making your paint stay:

The best way to prepare your playground for a paint day is to power wash it before your pa…

by Andrea Bossenmeyer

Everyone blames major junk food companies for advertising to kids, and contributing to childhood obesity...So why then don't we see advertising for broccoli? Green beans? Apples?

This article gives us a brief glimpse into the possibilities...

"the primary takeaway is that companies that sell, say, a certain cereal or fast food can brand their products to give them a market advantage. A single broccoli grower has a lo…

by Andrea Bossenmeyer

Severn Cullis-Suzuki is my hero. My new found hero! I am so proud of her and her friends whom founded Environmental Children’s Organization (ECO) a non-profit at the age of 10. She also fundraised all the money to go speak first international Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992 at the age of 12.

This video has just now found it's way to me...but it's worth 5 min of silence. Hush and listen:


Now adults, go t…

Principal's testimonial of effects of Peaceful Playgrounds on her school site.

1) Significant decrease in office discipline referrals
2) More kids playing cooperatively
3) More kids joining into games
4) Staff enjoying learning playground games





Peaceful Playgrounds Comprehensive Kit

Instructional Games DVD's

Children Learn to Play Peacefully



Peaceful Playgrounds Comprehensive Kit

Peaceful Playgrounds Physical Education (Fundamental)

Despite a history of splendid multi-sport athletes, youth sports has seen a rapid increase in its athletes specializing in one sport. Sports specialization is beginning at younger and younger ages.

While sports specialization may seem like a good idea on the surface, there are several risks and reasons to opt for a well-rounded athlete.

More from Youth Fitness Magazine

From Pittsburgh Post Gazette.com

Pittsburgh Public Schools are integrating yoga into the phys ed curriculum to diversify the gym experience and give students at different levels of fitness an activity they can adapt to at their own pace and still have a workout.

"We build our [phys ed] curriculum around five components -- body composition, flexibility, muscular, strength and cardiovascular endurance -- and yoga has a direct impact on all of t…

You decide.

CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) released a new report, entitled The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity, Including Physical Education, and Academic Performance, on April 14, 2010. The report indicates that school-based physical activity may help improve students’ grades and test scores and positively affect other factors that influence academic achievement. The report also concludes that adding time during …

Let me begin by saying this is one of the VERY BEST articles that I've read on the topic of Obesity. Believe me I've read alot of them over the last 10 years and even served on a Statewide Childhood Obesity Committee for a year. In my opinion this article is a must read for physical activity, physical education, and nutrition advocates.


Unless America stops cheering The Biggest Loser and starts getting serious about preventing obesity,…

"Some shortsighted people thought that cutting back on time spent on physical education to spend more time drilling for tests would improve test scores," says Howell Wechsler, director of the Division of Adolescent and School Health for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"But there are a lot of studies that show that more time for PE and other physical activity help improve academic performance."

He and colleagues …

QUESTION:
I will be writing grants for a small rural private school. There are so many grants I've seen that don't want to fund private or rural schools. Is there any tips for sorting through the huge mass of funding sources to find the one's we're eligible for?

ANSWER:

It's true that finding grants for private schools is difficult. Peaceful Playgrounds is a resource that sorts through the mass of grants that are available and p…

So what do principals do on their day off?

A work force of nearly 100 elementary principals came to Houston a day ahead of NAESP’s convention to participate in the second annual NAESP Community Service Day.

Landscape Structures served as the corporate sponsor for NAESP’s Community Service Day and donated $20,000 worth of playground materials for the project.

by Andrea Bossenmeyer
Edutopia has a great feature on "slamming". If you've never heard of Slamming it is a competition at which poets read or recite original work. These performances are then judged on a numeric scale by previously selected members of the audience.

Global Writes, is a non-profit that has brought the art of slamming to the Bronx, and developed confidence and literary talents to the students. One student comments …

by Andrea Bossenmeyer

Jamie Oliver also known as the Naked Chef has found purpose and meaning in his life above and beyond his chef skills. Mr. Oliver is campaigning for kids with a new project called the Food Revolution. He is working on bringing awareness about food back into the lives of every person. He has been filming a TV series in Virginia about food – how families eat, what kids get at school and why, the diet of processed food and snack…

1. Healthy Schools Campaign
2. theherocc
3. YTherapySource
4. balmeras
5. OCPlayParks
6. HSBS_PLAY
7. inmotionSK
8. SPARK_PROGRAMS
9. hmhalff
10. ChildrenNature
11. playequalspeace
12. SchoolLunch
13. SajaiFoundation
14. activekidsclub
15. AskMrPlayground

HCC TV - Episode 3 from The Hero Construction Company on Vimeo.

An article in Deleware online cites the benefits of Recess Before Lunch including better behavior and less food waste. Recent studies and data from districts across the country are convincing more school officials to change the time-honored order of lunch then recess.

According the the article: "Principals of scores of schools who moved recess before lunch discovered that not only do students eat more and waste less food, but behavior impr…

Contributed by Andrea Bossenmeyer



Earth day is around the corner and schools are currently competing to be dubbed America's Greenest School. Not only will they earn recognition for their efforts but also win a hybrid powered school bus.

Watch this video entry from some very well prepared, educated and adorable students!



Go watch the other entries and Vote Now!

Area district attorneys from MA find themselves inundated with calls following a South Hadley teen's suicide. The state legislature is struggling to craft anti-bullying legislation but concerned parents, school administrators and law enforcement are getting anxious about their role and responsibility in responding to bullying.

"It has been an explosion," Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said, referring to the number…

For a get-out-and-play idea how about GeoCaching. Below is a short video to explain what it is and how to get involved.



Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and s…

Contributed by Andrea Bossenmeyer



Fooducate is a great blog I follow. This morning they shared a brief history of how food became processed. I think it's a great share.



What you need to know:

Food processing is a set of methods and techniques used to transform raw food ingredients into consumable food. Food processing can be as simple as cutting up some vegetables to prepare a salad, or as complex as manufacturing a Twinkie in multiple processi…

Campbell's Labels for Education program enables schools to fundraise all year long for things the schools need. All you do is clip the UPC codes from products you are already buying!

They have now created new forms to make the process even easier!
You can keep these sheets in the main office, per classroom or even send home for parents to fill up and then send in!

1 Point Sheet

5 Point Sheet