Sunday's New York Times has an article entitled, "Forget goofing around. Recess has a new boss." The article was about Broadway Elementary School in Newark. According to the Times, "there is no more sitting around after lunch. No more goofing off with friends. No more doing nothing." It seems Broadway Elementary has hired a recess coach who organizes daily games and students are expected to participate in the chosen ac…

A playground on steroids. A playground of the future. Active play interactions. The next big idea in playgrounds. Theses descriptions could all describe Icon.

This past week I observed a new playground structure called Icon by Kompan. But really, structure doesn't even begin to describe it. Think of a giant video game that challenges kids to move around a play structure as an active participant. Yes, panting as a result of quick agil…

Great anti- bullying video.

Other blogs and articles on the topic of bullying.

Why Bullying Programs Succeed or Fail.

Bullying Prevention: Life's Lessons in Good and Evil.


Kids Learn How to Play Nice.

With the goal to empower school age children nationwide with the means to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle, ING Run For Something Better (ING RFSB), in partnership with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), has developed a school-based running program. In addition to fighting childhood obesity, research shows that physical activity improves self esteem, school performance and overall well being.

Deadline: Apri…

Two years ago, as Legislative Chairperson of the CAHPERD I worked with members to advocate for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign several bills into law to eliminate sodas and other highly sweetened beverages and restrict the sale of junk foods in all of California's public schools.

He did. And it appears to have worked according to a study by Sanchez-Vaznaugh and co-investigators which was published in the Journal of Health Affairs. The st…