Here's some great pictures of the new Peaceful Playgrounds at Rocky Springs Elementary School in South Carolina.

Don't forget to share your pictures with us. We love them.   Here's a link to a find out more about painting your playground with games and markings.

I watched a less popular girl, Allison, walk up to a group of four girls who were playing a game of four-square. As she approached and asked, “Can I play?” she was quickly rebuffed. “The game is closed,” Janey, the ring leader, announced.
Given the school is a Peaceful Playgrounds’ school, I was surprised at the response because of the “You can’t say, ‘You can’t play’” mantra. Allison, whose disappointment was obvious, turned to play anot…

Do you have a Peaceful Playground?  Sound Impossible?  It's not!  Here's how.

I watched a less popular girl, Allison, walk up to a group of four girls who were playing a game of four-square. As she approached and asked, “Can I play?” she was quickly rebuffed. “The game is closed,” Janey, the ring leader, announced.
Given the school is a Peaceful Playgrounds school, I was surprised at the response because of the “You can’t say, ‘You can’t play’” mantra. Allison, whose disappointment was obvious, turned to play anoth…

Retiring Kindergarten teacher Beverly Gavrel donates Peaceful Playgrounds Program to improve the place children play at Phillips Elementary school.



View more videos at: http://nbcdfw.com.

American Academy of Dermatology: Shade Structure Program

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Shade Structure Program gives grants for the purchase of permanent shade structures designed to provide shade and ultraviolet (UV) ray protection for outdoor areas.

AAD also provides a permanent sign to be displayed near the shade structure that promotes the importance of sun safety.

Maximum award: $8,000.

Eligibility: nonprofit organization or pub…

For those of you who read this blog for recess information, I discovered a new website full of interesting information about recess.

It was started by a handful of parents in the Beacon City School District who have children in all four of the elementary schools in Beacon. Each parent individually had become concerned with the number of days our children spent inside a classroom rather than going outside for recess.

The website is called a plac…

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) offers the Tire-Derived Product (TDP) Grant Program to promote markets for recycled-content products derived from waste tires generated in California and decrease the adverse environmental impacts created by unlawful disposal and stockpiling of waste tires.

Eligible agencies are public entities which include: California cities, counties, public school districts, public col…

A $10,000 grant to makeover a playground is open for applicants until December 1, 2010.

Other prizes include:
1)$25,000 in merchandise from Sports Authority
2)Every student will receive a Paul Pierce Activity Watch
Plus!
3) Your school will be celebrated with a special event when the prizes are delivered!
*See eligibility in official rules
Runner-up Prizes

5 lucky schools will receive $15,000 in merchandise from Sports Authority

Help activate Energy Bala…

By JC Boushh I get asked a lot about how to design the perfect playground for children when I lecture at conferences, and meet with clients to design their outdoor play environments. The first thing to know is that it is not just the playground that is important in the design, but it is actually the entire outdoor environment. Although the type of playground equipment you select is important to creating a good play environment, it is definitely …

FROM:
Miami County Republic Newspaper
Beaver Dam, Wisc.

Written by Brian McCauley
Friday, 15 October 2010 08:00

Two of the biggest issues facing youths these days are childhood obesity and bullying, and Cottonwood Elementary School in Paola is about to institute a program that could help tackle both problems.

Thanks to an impressive stretch of state teacher of the year finalists, Cottonwood Elementary had enough funds to pay for a new program, and …

Contributed by JC BoushhA new research report issued by the Health and Safety Executive and Play England indicates that it is perfectly normal for children to get slight injuries while playing on playgrounds. The report states that part of play is grazed and skinned knees. We want playgrounds to be safe, but there has to be an element of risk and challenge associated with it otherwise the playground is boring and uncreative. Many parents today a…

Contributed by JC Boushh A child’s physical environment has the ability to shape the structure of the brain and form vital neural connections that lead to increased brain functions, and in contrast so do children’s play environments. As children become more exposed to the fast paced technological lifestyle of video games, they crave novel and complex play environments that challenge and engage them beyond what they can experience in the two dime…

Reasonable care does not require constant and undeviating scrutiny of a particular child on a supervised playground. Accordingly, a playground supervisor is not necessarily negligent if he or she fails to observe a particular child at the precise moment an injury occurs.

Read on to learn about teacher responsibilities in supervising the playground.

Interested in learning more? Sign up for the online Playground Supervisor Training Course and Certi…

Have you entered the U.S. Playground Map stencil Contest? It is not only the most popular playground stencil but also one with educational benefits. The large map is great for social studies lessons and large group instruction. The Peaceful Playgrounds U.S. Map Stencil comes with 10 map activities, a sheet of map terms and references and a reading list of children's books for map related activities.

Enter here.

Educators and neuroscientists are beginning to understand the importance of recess. Years ago kids went to recess as it was good for their health to get outside, experience the fresh air and get a break from sitting inside classrooms for extended periods of time. Today we are beginning to recognize the many other benefits of recess as well.


Sutapa Ray, a neuroscientist with the Bellevue children's software company Neuropath Learning identi…

Have you checked out the Play Cafe?

Watch this short video for information and parent resources for those interested in and understanding the importance of play.



The importance of play.

A playground program: Peaceful Playgrounds.

One schools approach to playground play space.

Thank you to everyone that attended our last How to have a Peaceful Playgrounds Webinar! We had a great attendance. Here's a Question & Answer session from one of our schools.


Q: Approximately how many hours are needed to paint the playground markings?
This is a great question. There are many factors that vary the amount of time needed, such as: how many game markings are being added, how hot or cold it is on your paint day (drying time), …

Yet another study is showing that school recess plays an important role in school success for children. Recently a research focus has centered on the connection between recess/physical activity and academic performance. A study released February in Pediatrics documented the positive relationship between recess and improved classroom behavior.

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