New Way to Play Catching On

As reported in Child Magazine, September 2003, Peaceful
Playgrounds is the most implemented recess curriculum in the nation with
over 7000 schools.

See excerpts from the article below:
Last year, the Antelope Trails Elementary School, located in
Colorado Springs, adopted Peaceful Playgrounds. The program entails
painting the blacktop and fields with colorful grids and circles that can be
used for more than 100 games. The goal: to encourage kids to interact
more appropriately with one another during recess. With games like four
square and hopscotch, each with clear rules, kids are on the same
playing field so to speak, says Dr. Bossenmeyer. Perhaps the most
useful game, she says, is the old fashioned "rock, paper, scissors,”
which kids use to quash squabbles. “It’s awesome. It teachers the
student how to handle conflict resolution without resorting to
violence or mean behavior,” say Kim Peters, a graduate student who
implemented Peaceful Playgrounds at Antelope Trails last year.

Playground Tips: When is it too hot to play?

As we enter the summer season the heat presents a particular challenge for summer school and year round school locations. Principals and physical educators will face daily decisions regarding children’s heat health on the playground.

It should be noted that kids absorb more heat than adults while sweating less. The
result is a greater propensity for heat cramps, exhaustion or heat stroke.
So how hot is too hot for physical activity? The determination depends on a number
of factors like: how high is the humidity, how hot is it on the blacktop, what kind of
access do children have to water to hydrate, is there a shade area, benches to cool off
on, etc. The single most important factor to acknowledge is children seldom complain
when over heated and most children rarely self regulate.

Upon a return to the classroom, the symptoms of heat injuries often surface. Symptoms include:
• Heat Cramps- Early warning sign of heat exhaustion or stroke.
• Heat Exhaustion- Extreme sweating, dry mouth, fatigue, headache, nausea and
dizziness.
• Heat Stroke-Considered a medical emergency. Body Temp above 104 degrees,
confusion, deep breathing, stops sweating, and loss of consciousness.
Prevention Strategies include:
• Hydrate before and after physical activity.
• Avoid sweet or caffeinated drinks which dehydrate.
• Rest often at least each 20 minutes on hot days.
• Allow hats for outside use.
• Consider allowing water bottles in classrooms and playgrounds on hot days.
* Shorten Recess and outdoor exposure.

LAUSD to open school playgrounds for community use

Perhaps following a NYC initiative, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education unanimously adopted a resolution that would open school playgrounds to community use in the afternoons, on weekends, and during school vacations. The motion was introduced by Board President Mónica García and was co-sponsored by Board members Marlene Canter and Richard Vladovic, and builds on the District’s robust joint use construction program.

The Board action was coordinated with the Los Angeles City Council, which recently adopted a similar Council Motion. The City and the School District have pledged to work together—and with community groups and civic leaders—to raise additional resources, convert asphalt to green play spaces, and offer more out-of-school activities for students and their families.

A recent national survey found that, of the seven largest cities in the United States, Los Angeles ranks the lowest in park access. In fact, the study found that two-thirds of children 18 and under in Los Angeles do not live within walking distance of a public park.

Other playground blog topics:
A design that fights playground politics

Tired of playground hassles and headaches?

The slide show addresses Peaceful Playgrounds research on what goes wrong on the typical school playgrounds and what schools can do.

Playworld System swing sets recalled

WASHINGTON, May 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of Playground Swing Sets made by Playworld Systems Inc. of Lewisburg, Pa. No injuries have been reported but the clevis that holds the swing can wear down, causing the swing to detach, creating a falling hazard, a CPSC statement said.

The swing sets were sold through authorized dealers from January 2007 through February 2008 for between $770 and $3,100.

Consumers are advised to immediately remove the swing from the frame until a repair kit is installed.

Consumers can call Playworld Systems at 800-233-8404 for further information.

About 17,300 swing sets were sold, CPSC reported.

Playground injury study released

The majority of playground injuries, 83.9% occurred on monkey bars, swings, and slides, and the 5 most common diagnoses were fractures (39.3%), contusions/abrasions (20.6%), lacerations (16.6%), strains/sprains (9.9%), and traumatic brain injuries (TBI) (8.5%).

Boys represented (54.3%) of all injuries and girls (45.7%).

The average age was 3.5 to 9.5 years. The injuries occurred at school in 38.9%; at a recreation/sporting facility, in 35.5%; and at home, in 25.6%. Most kids were treated and released (94.4%).

The most serious injuries are tramatic brain injuries (TBI's). Swings at school are the most common mechanism of injury for TBIs, and the seasonal data would suggest that increased supervision of children using swings during school hours might reduce the occurrence of TBIs.

An interesting finding noted was: " The trend in playground equipment injury also indicates that monkey bars are problematic because the number of injuries per year per capita owing to monkey bars is stable, whereas those from swings and slides is decreasing."

More on playground injury study.........

A Winning Strategy behind Rock, Paper, Scissors Game

When it comes to the Rock, Paper, Scissor game,
it's all in fun but still a little strategy never hurts.
Scientists in the UK have "studied" this popular playground game and concluded that one should start with scissors as it has a psychological advantage.

Research shows that a rock (or stone) is the most popular of the three possible moves in the game of quickfire hand gestures.
If your opponent expects you to pick stone, they will choose paper to outwit you.
Therefore, by going with scissors, you will win, because scissors beat paper. Who knew such strategy would prove helpful?

If you find this intriguing, read on to find out how a 10 year old girl advised her father and successfully secured Christie's auction house of a $10 million deal in 2005.

Hot tip for playground safety

With warm weather just around the corner it makes sense to start thinking about shade for students. Harbour View Elementary School in Summerfield, Florida is doing just that. They have installed a canopy which is hurricane proof and blocks UV rays over the kindergarten playground structure. Kindergarten teacher, Melinda Boatright commented that its working, "We don't see those red, flushed cheeks like we used to."

"The canopies provide a safer and more comfortable place to play," said Zanetti School Board Chairperson, adding that burns from the metal or mats have now been eliminated, as well as the potential for sunburns. "They're fabulous." The estimated cost of the canopies installed at all district elementary schools is approximately $15,000 each. An added bonus is that the P.E. program is using the space to teach physical education on hot days.

Something to think about especially considering that young kids don't sweat nearly enough to cool themselves AND kids rarely self regulate play on hot days making them at risk for heat exhaustion.

Slides and History of NYC Playgrounds

Playgrounds Grow Up is the title of an article and slide show highlighting a history of playgrounds in NYC. The article was published in Jan. 2007 in the NY Times. This slide show and audio narrative provides a great overview and history of playgrounds over the last century. The slide show ends with Imagination Playground which I blogged about last Friday, April 18.

Imagination Playground: A model for future urban playgrounds.

Click on the link below or cut and paste it into your browser to view a great slide show reviewing playground design for urban areas and the progression of playgrounds over the past century. http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/weekinreview/20070114_PLAY_FEATURE/index.html

Thanks to Playscapes Blog for pointing out a great slide show that I would have otherwise missed.

Neos : Super Sized Playground Electronic Game

Kinetic. Explosive. Interactive. NEOS moves at the speed of light. It's Challenging........ The world's newest electronic sport is an electronic game for the heart and lungs—not just the thumbs. It's a giant video looking game with all the bells and point possibilities of a hand held but this game gets kids hearts pumping and pounding.

National Playground Safety Week April 21-25

Spring is in the air, but unfortunately so are falls. The Consumer Product Safety Commission cites falls from equipment as a factor in 70% of the nation's playground injuries. Teaching children how to fall properly can greatly decrease the injury rate. According to Dr. Thompson, Executive Director of the National Program for Playground Safety, "the best person to teach the 'fall safely method' is the school physical education teacher."

Check out the free materials from the NPPS website including a checklist for schools and parents on keeping children safe on playgrounds. Working together with NPPS, we can make America's playground safe for all children.

Spring into a Safe Playground

Winter was officially over and Spring is here so it's time to think about sending kids out to the playground. Here's some tips for making the playground safe.

1. After snow, rain or other elements the playground surfacing may be in need of refilling or loose fill ( wood chips, pea gravel, sand etc.) needs "fluffed up" (raked and groomed after a winter compacting). A 12" minimum an fill evenly throughout the play structure area.

2. Check the sandbox area for broken glass or sharp objects that may have ended up there over the winter.

3. Think about re-training your playground supervisors by providing a quick overview on playground rules and safety.

4. Have a short assembly and remind students of behavior expectations especially outdoor behavior that can lead to conflicts.

5. Replenish recess equipment carts. Throw away flat balls and order replacements.

Download our 10 Tips for a Peaceful Playground and spring into a safe playground season.

Hip Hip Hooray for KaBOOM! Planning great playground for kids.

When you think of great companies doing great things for kids KaBOOM would certainly be near the top of the list. I first heard of KaBoom nearly 12 years ago at an international playground conference where Darell Hammond -Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of KaBoom was just getting started. Who knew his vision of creating a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America would develop into a Nationally recognized non-profit foundation that rallies communities to achieve better public policy, funding and public awareness for increased play opportunities nationwide.

Their website has many tools and resources that help with planning playgrounds including trainings, challenge grants, and publications for communities that wish to plan a new playspace on their own; and bring together children, business and community interests for a select number of community playspace builds each year. KaBoom is headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago, Atlanta and San Mateo.

RAND STUDY FINDS SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS RESOURCE IN OBESITY BATTLE

A RAND Corporation study says school playgrounds can be important tools in the fight against childhood obesity. However, many are locked and inaccessible to children on weekends – especially in poor and minority neighborhoods.

The study called the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG) found that, on average, 66 percent of the schools were unlocked on weekends. But only 57 percent of schools were both unlocked and had accessible facilities for weekend physical activities such as playgrounds, athletic fields, basketball courts and paved playing surfaces.

“Girls who lived near locked schools tended to be heavier, and neighborhoods with locked schools were disproportionately poor and had larger minority populations,” said Molly M. Scott, lead author of the study and research analyst with RAND, a nonprofit research organization. “These neighborhoods, where risk of obesity is high and public parks and playgrounds are often lacking, could benefit from convenient and safe places for physical activity. And making schools accessible doesn't require construction. It's a policy change.”

More on Playground Accessibility study....

A Peaceful Playground. Isn't that the dream.......

An updated playground is more than play space
Boeckman - Fitness and creative play are emphasized with the school's improvements
Thursday, February 21, 2008
CATHIE ERICSON
Special to The Oregonian

A peaceful playground -- isn't that the dream of all students, parents and educators? Where recess is a time of socialization, fresh air and physical activity, rather than a period marked by conflict and bullying.

That's the concept behind the new playground at Wilsonville's Boeckman Creek Primary School.

The improvement project began in November 2006 when several parents indicated an interest in updating the playground. Ten parents and four staff members volunteered to form a committee and established the goal of a space with activities that would develop fitness and allow for cooperative, imaginative play.

As they researched physical and social education and development, they were drawn to Peaceful Playgrounds, a program developed by a former teacher and elementary school principal in 1992 to address discipline problems and advance social and motor skills.

Peaceful Playgrounds takes a resource most playgrounds already have -- space -- and transforms blacktops and fields into play areas with activities and games. With more choices, children are more likely to engage in physical activity.

More than 8,000 schools nationwide use Peaceful Playgrounds. It has been recognized by groups including the National School Safety Center for increasing physical activity and decreasing bullying and injuries.

Boeckman Creek's new playground is being phased in as funds become available. A PTA auction last year raised $14,000, and at last fall's PTA-sponsored Fun Run, students helped raise $24,000.

Over the summer, games such as four square, hopscotch and alphabet leapfrog were stenciled onto the blacktop. New equipment, including 10 swings, two tire swings, a wall ball area and a remodeled fitness area, arrived during winter break.

More games and activities will be introduced this spring when painting weather arrives and the school can round up parent and community volunteers.

Morris said the new playground offers the students many more choices for activity. As a result "they are spending time in play and learning to cooperate with others," she said. "Each day is another opportunity to develop not only physically, but also as the person they want to be with a strong moral character."

Deets said the staff saw fewer "behavior discipline referrals" during recess last month, the first month the new playground has really been up and running.

He also said instructional assistants have noticed fewer students wandering around with "nothing to do."

"Many students who were frequently engaged in loosely structured chase games have found new activities to participate in," Deets said. "All in all, we see the kids being happier, with more smiles, as they enjoy the new playground."

Creating a better playground

If you want your child to be more active, try throwing him a ball
Tara Parker Pope / The New York Times

Simple playthings such as balls, jump ropes, hula hoops and riding toys do more for encouraging physical activity than swings, jungle gyms and other stationary playground equipment, according to a recent report in the ‘American Journal of Preventive Medicine’.
The findings are important because they show that schools and day-care centers don’t need expensive playground equipment to keep kids active. The data was collected by researchers from the University of North Carolina School of Public Health from 20 childcare centers across North Carolina. The goal of the researchers was to determine the various environmental factors that encourage children to play with greater intensity and for longer periods of time.

Kids were also far more likely to be active at centers that scheduled more playtime, both inside and outdoors, and offered physical activity training and education for staff and students. Children in centers that had more portable playground toys and other characteristics showing support for active playtime reported about 80 more minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity and 140 fewer minutes of sedentary activity each week compared with centers that were viewed as less supportive of physical activity.
Surprisingly, stationary equipment, such as climbing structures, swings and balance beams, were associated with lower-intensity physical activity, researchers said, but are beneficial to other aspects of child development, such as motor and social skills.
Centers with more computer and television equipment actually scored better on activity levels, although it is likely the presence of electronic equipment signaled that a center had more money to spend overall, which typically means more equipment and staff training.
©2008/The New York Times

The Importance of Recess

Posted on The Elementary Educator - Written by blogger Mark Pullen a third grade teacher from Michigan.


Amid all of the current pressures to get students to achieve on standardized tests, school administrators in some districts around the United States have created extra academic time for their students by getting rid of something that they feel no longer is useful: recess.

“There’s too much to do,” says Rosemary Agneessens, principal of Creighton Elementary School in Phoenix, where morning and afternoon recesses for even the littlest kids were eliminated two years ago.

The same sentiment was put even more bluntly by Benjamin O. Canada, superintendent of schools in Atlanta, when he told The New York Times, “We are intent on improving academic performance. You don’t do that by having kids hanging on the monkey bars.”

Or do you?

Stewart Trost, assistant professor of kinesiology at Kansas State University, asserts, ”Kids who have recess display an improved ability to stay on task, are less fidgety in the classroom and are better behaved…movement is essential to the physical and social development of all children.”

Echoing those sentiments is Olga Jarrett, a child development specialist from Georgia State University: “An experimental study found that fourth-graders were more on-task, less fidgety and less disruptive in the classroom on days when they had recess, with hyperactive children among those who benefited the most. Breaks are helpful, both for attention and for classroom management and discipline.”

Ask any teacher after a rainy day where the students had to stay inside, and I guarantee you’ll get the same response: recess matters. In a country where nearly 20% of our children are obese, 4.4 million children are diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, and after-school time for children is frequently hyper-structured, does anyone who’s worked with kids really think that banning recess is a good idea?

Get the children outside. And while they’re there, maybe we adults should try it as well. Maybe it would clear our minds so we would quit trying to implement such horrible ideas on our children.

UK : Kids need more PE and Playgrounds

Schools will be encouraged to build more playgrounds, introduce food education classes and offer 4 hours of PE each week, according to the London Sun. Additionally, NEARLY a million pupils are doing less than the two hours a week of PE and sport recommended by the Government, official figures revealed yesterday.

The huge number represents a devastating setback to Labor’s drive to combat rising obesity rates among the young.

Mr Laws, Lib-Dem schools spokesman said: “As more kids grow up obese, sport at school becomes absolutely vital.

“How can we expect to find and train Olympic champions of the future if children aren’t taking part in sport at school?”

More on Millions of pupils don't get enough.....

Making A Difference for Kids

Volunteers in communities across the nation united in late October to perform community service projects for Make A Difference Day. The local Make a Difference Day event is led by the Volunteer Resource Center of SCV in cooperation with the city of Santa Clarita in Southern CA. Whenever there are large groups of children around, playgrounds are anything but peaceful. To address the issues of conflicts in games, bullying and the rise of childhood obesity Saugus School District implemented the Peaceful Playgrounds program. It is a set of colorful games painted onto the blacktop that includes over 100 activities. With so many well-marked and colorful games, kids are motivated to play more and be active instead of waiting around in lines. The program also encourages use of a universal set of rules and methods for conflict resolution that helps cut down the number of disagreements.

When the Saugus district implemented Peaceful Playgrounds a few years ago, the schools loved it. However, over the years the games have become dull and faded and are in need of repainting. The district had the materials but not enough manpower to repaint so many schools. That's where the Make A Difference Day volunteers come into the picture.

Local volunteers will go to go to Bridgeport, Cedarcreek, Charles Helmers, North Park, Rosedell, and Santa Clarita Elementary school sites to repaint the existing play ground games. We will have eight volunteers and one school staff at each site to complete this project. By the end of the day the playgrounds will be restored to their bright and inviting states.

Expert Offers Gift Tips Sure to 'Move' Children

There are a number of gift ideas to get sedentary children of all age active, says a Purdue University childhood fitness expert.

"The key is to find gifts that also motivate the entire family to move," says Carole DeHaven, a continuing lecturer in the Department of Health and Kinesiology. "Parents are the gatekeepers for healthy living. By providing activities that children enjoy, along with healthy food choices, we can help reverse the number of children who are overweight or obese."

"If the trend is not reversed, then obese children grow up to be obese adolescents who grow in to obese adults."

Gift ideas that promote activity include:

- Bicycles, sleds, skates, in-line skates, scooters, snowboards. Be sure to provide the necessary safety
gear.
- Cup stacking and timing pad, ladder games such as Ladder Golf, washoos, Bocce Ball.
- Consider community resources. For example, give a coupon to meet a child every Tuesday for a walk in the park, or give passes to the zoo or an ice skating rink.

- Money to pay for their participation in organized sports, such as local youth programs for sports, gymnastics or ballet.
- Books that promote physical activity, such as "Angelina's Ballet Class."
- Pedometers for the whole family. Challenge family members to see who can log the most footsteps in a day.
- Jump ropes, tumbling mats, balls, pogo sticks or Hula-Hoops.
- Interactive videogames that require movement such as Smart Cycle Physical Learning Arcade System and DDR: Dance Revolution.
- Active board games like Twister, Toss Across, Hopper Bounce Balls or virtual reality games where children dance or participate in aerobic football.
- Tunnels and playhouses, such as Crawl N' Play.
- Favorite music that energizes children, such as hip-hop varieties or Disney or Jock Jams.
- New workout gear, such as shoes and clothing, as well as skip-it, exercise balls, playing balls and weights.
- Books by Klutz teach children how to juggle, learn rhymes with tinkling sticks and Chinese jump ropes. Books about favorite athletes.

"The best present parents can give is their time," says DeHaven, who works with physicians to teach children about physical activity. "When adults give themselves as part of the gift it also encourages that child to participate in the activity.

More on gifts to encourage kids to move.......