by Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer
As temperatures continue to climb this summer and smoke from fires spread across various parts of the U.S., schools across the U.S. are beginning to explore long-term options for reducing heat and smoke exposure. One solution that is gaining popularity is the use of misting systemsThe heat reminds me of a time 20 years ago when I was a principal in Southern California and my school was located about 40 miles from Palm S…

Free Downloads that encourage healthy habits!
Kids will have fun with these interactive printables all while learning about food nutrition! This download drop includes an educational reader and brain-stimulating matching card games. Download



Use the download links to download the full pdf files of these printable games!Download
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Marching Cards
The Power of Play. Play brings both risks and rewards. Marching Cards bring fun to everyday activity. https://buff.ly/35nHuJI

The Times We Remember
Things we remember. The best times involved play. Check out our fall brain break cards. https://buff.ly/37yLTwe

IPEMA Association Survey and The Voice of Play



Research shows that outdoor free play gives kids many valuable benefits, including the growth of physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills. And teachers agree, according to the second annual Voice of Play Survey. The survey of 500 U.S. elementary school teachers was conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA), the playground…

The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.
Phil Jackson - NBA Laker Coach


Check out some of the Peaceful Playgrounds activities to engage in play.
 Theme Brain Breaks Action Animals Brain Breaks Fall Theme Brain Breaks Brain Breaks : Sports Stars, Cards, Posters, PowerPoint Set Pirate Parade Brain Break Cards, Posters & Powerpoint

17975 Collier Ave  |  Unit 5  |  Lake Elsinore CA  |  92530  |  951.245.6970 Melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Website  Peaceful Playgrounds News and Information Playground/Recess InformationKaBoom Playability - Learn more about Playability's growing momentum and ways to get involved in your community to give all kids in the healthy, happy and play-filled lives they deserve.

How to improve recess.
A big part of rest…

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was ask if play and common core could co-exist. Here's his answer....Absolutely. I’m a huge proponent of play – I was one of those boys for whom it was difficult to sit still for 6 hours a day. Read on...


http://fatherly.com/culture/secretary-of-education-arne-duncan-interview/http://fatherly.com/culture/secretary-of-education-arne-duncan-interview/

It's finally here.  The best day of the year.  The first day of summer........

E N J O Y!!!!

The Value of Unstructured Play Time for Kids - Pacific Standard: The Science of Society

This article talks about the value of unstructured play.

To clarify, we at Peaceful Playgrounds believe that play time should be unstructured.  We believe that "enriching" the play environment and then allowing children to play without adult facilitation or intervention.



http://www.peacefulplaygrounds.com/product/catalog/peaceful-playgrounds-rece…

Do you know that play is an important part of health and happiness?  Stuart Grauer the Founder of the Grauer School located in Encinitas, CA  wrote a post on the Smart Blog on Education talking about  play's important role in education. 

Citing Stuart Brown, a Stanford psychiatrist and producer of a PBS series on play he points out that  "creative achievers such as Nobel laureates virtually all had high amounts of play in their early l…

I just love this photo my daughter sent me.  Wonder why?

You've heard of sit-in?   A few years back ( well, quite a few years back) they were as popular as "peaceful demonstrations".  Well some Chicago students and parents organized a "play in" earlier this week at Chicago Public Schools Headquarters.

Chicago parents are upset that CPS does not have a  mandatory recess period.  It is up to an individual school and teachers whether to offer recess.  Some parents think that is &q…

We are now posting timely information on our Facebook page daily. Yesterday the topics included:
1. Bullying Conference at the White House.
2. Health Needs a Hero Video link.
3. Story on Play Works and how play made a difference for a child.

We encourage you to go to the Peaceful Playgrounds Facebook page and click on the "Like" graphic. This will insure that you receive the daily feeds much like the blog feed you've been receiving …

New from the National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play

Upcoming FREE Webinar!

Play Everyday For A Healthy Brain!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 – 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST

The brain NEEDS play! The human brain is an amazing and complex organ that allows each of us to think, feel, and act. The brain systems that regulate those activities are largely shaped by experience. Learn why play is essential for optimal early brain development and why …

Download Canada's physical activity guides.

This resource is designed to help those who teach children and adults about healthy eating and physical activity. The Toolkit includes:

* The Eat Well and Be Active Every Day poster;
* Downloadable activity plans
* 54 healthy eating and physical activity images to complement the poster.

The Head Start Body Start Center is offering a series of webinars.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 – 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST

The brain NEEDS play! The human brain is an amazing and complex organ that allows each of us to think, feel, and act. The brain systems that regulate those activities are largely shaped by experience. Learn why play is essential for optimal early brain development and why it is vital for all parents and educators to be play partne…

Why Play? Understanding the Importance of Play is the fourth most viewed featured article on the Peaceful Playgrounds website.

Play is the spontaneous activity in which children engage to amuse and to occupy themselves. It is also a way children optimize their own brain development. Why Play? To answer that question we must first understand the importance of play.

Video- Boston area school cuts back on recess.

Another school district is eliminating morning recess in an attempt to raise test scores.

For an education system this is an uneducated response. Here's why recess is important:

Schools role in the childhood obesity crisis.

Why Play?

Head Start Body Start in Body Building?

Recess on the Up Swing