How to offer a safe recess during a pandemic.
Featured Article
by Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer

Schools across the nation are returning to classrooms, lunchrooms, and playgrounds to find that much has changed since the school closed in March. Each setting will require a set of procedures and protocols in order to keep students safe. One of the most challenging environments, the playground, children’s favorite activity at school, can still be availabl…
10 Playground Stencils on Sale now.
 Don't miss our Annual Playground Stencil Sale.  Single stencils include: Hopscotch, basketball key, 4 square, world map and the U.S. Map  Playground Stencil.
A Peaceful Playground? Sound Impossible? It’s not. With a few proven strategies we’ll show you how to reduce bullying, and reduce playground conflicts, resulting in happy students and a thankful staff.
Our research indicates that 5 situations contribute to 95% of all problems on typical elementary school playgrounds. In this fast paced webinar we’ll share those problem situations and our proven strategies for turning your playground into a…
Nice Video of Forts Pond Elementary School's  Peaceful Playgrounds Program.

The NFL's San Diego Chargers, a team with a strong and lengthy community commitment to San Diego's youth, brought a Peaceful Playground and an Action Based Learning Lab to students at Nye Elementary on September 30, 2014.

The Chargers made this possible courtesy of a $30,000 grant awarded by the Chargers' Champions Program in 2013.  Following the ribbon cutting, Chargers' players Darrell Stuckey and Shareece Wright delighted s…
Today's update comes from Dan Rikli, principal of Netherwood Knoll Elementary School.

As part NKE's culture goal we have adopted a program called Peaceful Playground. The purpose of the Peaceful Playground Program is to make the playground a safe and peaceful place to play, learn and grow. Peaceful Playground introduces children and school staff to many choices of activities available on playgrounds and field areas. The program has re…
Let's Play Community Construction Grants http://ow.ly/BWazF

Dr Pepper Snapple & KaBOOM! have teamed up to offer $15,000 grants to be used toward the purchase of playground equipment.

Playgrounds must be assembled and installed using the KaBOOM! community-build model. For more information about the community build model, go to kaboom.org/toolkit. 

Deadline:   Oct. 9

Visit our grants webpage for grant and tools for getting your grant fu…
Nearly everyday we get a call asking us to explain what comes with the Peaceful Playgrounds School Recess Program?This is an opportunity to find out.Download the brochure or visit our webpage with all the components listed to enhance your school playground experience for students.
Additional questions?  Call us at 951-245-6970Peaceful Playgrounds Recess ProgramPeaceful Playgrounds Recess Program Design permanent playground activities that help …
How to paint the Peaceful Playgrounds Hopscotch Stencil. Watch Video.


Hopscotch The hopscotch stencil is one piece of large paper for the court.  Dots outline the court and then you connect the  dots,  and paint inside the squares.  Need more than one hopscotch court?  No problem move the paper to the next spot for the court and repeat.  Hopscotch is a child favorite grades 1-3.
$49.99
Lanier Elementary School in Louisiana needed a playground make over.  See the before and after pictures to see what a difference a little paint can make.

Need funds to repave your asphalt.  No problem.  Check out our school playground  grants page. Or.... better yet, here's an economical solution to paving (add green paint).  Talk about a face lift.   A coat of green paint prior to painting the game markings makes  all the difference.

Find …
Teaching children the difference between tattling and telling is often an overlooked playground skill that children should be taught.  Taking a couple of minutes to distinguish the difference will have a positive impact on the playground.

Explain to children:

TATTLING-  When you are trying to get someone "in" trouble.

TELLING -  When you are trying to get someone "out" of trouble.

Even the youngest children understand this i…
Our elementary school has been wanting a USA map for two years.  Finding the volunteers to help was the challenge.

Jason was looking for a project for his Eagle Scout badge.  The map turned out to be the perfect project.

Jason coordinate the volunteers and the school now has two amazing maps.  The maps make the whole playground look so much more colorful and creative.

Laura
Taylor Elementary school
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…
The application period opens today for a $1000 morning physical activity program grant called BOK.

Reebok and the Reebok Foundation are awarding $1,000 to up to 500 schools for the 2013/2014 school year to help get kids moving in a fun way to wake up their bodies for a day of learning with BOKS, a before school physical activity program. Application period starts TODAY! Elementary schools across the country can apply for this $1,000 grant…
Monroe Elementary School in Oklahoma City, Ok.   The PTA painted a new Peaceful Playground for students when they return for the fall.  Nice design and beautiful colors add fun and excitement to the first day of school.
School Recess: Structured Games and Activities at Recessby Melinda Bossenmeyer, Ed.D. Structured recess.  Good idea or bad?
Today I received a phone call from a second grade teacher.  She indicated that she had a behavior challenged child (frequent discipline issues) and was growing pretty frustrated with him.  In response to Jeremy (not his real name), who was hitting kids, pushing kids, and causing chaos at recess, the school decided that they w…