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If you are new to our newsletter and Peaceful Playgrounds, welcome! We are pleased to share our 27th year of helping Elementary Schools nationwide create Peaceful Places for children to play and helping schools create active nourishing environments for kids to Play Nice! Play Often!
I am Zia Bossenmeyer, daughter of Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer, also affectionately known as "the Recess Doctor". We are a woman-owned, family-owned company. Melinda is now enjoying some of the benefits of retirement, although she does a monthly contribution of our monthly professional Featured Articles.
If you have been following us for a long time, we give our gratitude to you and appreciate your loyalty.
Last year we did a huge update on our Peaceful Playgrounds Recess Program offering new downloads and training materials for smooth implementation and modernization. Peaceful Playgrounds started with our Recess Program initially as a book, then Melinda custom designed playgrounds, then eventually developed the Recess Program into a package, to make it more cost friendly and easier to reach more schools across the nation. We have welcomed approx. 10,000 schools into the Peaceful Playgrounds Programs and products over the last 27 years.
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When Is It Too Cold for Recess?
This Featured Article is part of our Inclement weather Series
by Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer - The Recess Doctor
Indoor or Outdoor Recess?
When the weather outside is frightful outdoor recess on the playground may not be delightful. Just ask any playground supervisor.
Outdoor recess, however, is a reality and daily decisions about “how cold is too cold” is something site principals, teachers, and day care directors will be making during the winter months. Snow, wind and icy conditions make deciding when to let kids go out and play a difficult decision.
Administrators make the call.
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In Southern CA where I worked at a principal, cold is rarely, (if ever) an issue. Generally, students could go outside nearly every day except for when it rains. But in Northern California at Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, they face snow storms and icy conditions frequently like many other mountain areas across the nation. So a temperature standard would not make sense for both these areas even though they are within the same state.
Weather conditions are critical in making the call
Principals generally take into account precipitation, wind chill and other weather conditions in making an indoor/outdoor decision. Tim Mc Avoy of Utica Community Schools in Michigan put it best, “the bottom line is student safety. It’s not a decision that you can paint with a broad brush.”
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When making the decision to go outside for recess school officials need to consider many factors and one of the most influential is the wind chill factor that drives many decisions. Temperature is another factor that in some cases generates an end to the discussion because in some places when the thermometer hits a certain number there is a district policy that takes over. This is typically affected by local weather conditions. For example, in Southern CA children typically do not bring gloves, layered clothing, hats etc to school to wear at recess. A cold day below 50 would probably generate a long hard look at “sending children outdoors” basically because the temperature rarely drops that low and because children do not come to schools with warm snow type coats and hats.
On the other hand, in MN many schools report sending children out doors until the temperature reaches 32 degrees because parents send children expecting them to go outside at recess and dress kids warmly in the winter. Minnesota children generally arrive at school prepared for cold weather and most dress appropriately.
To continue reading the article view here.
Included at the link:
Free download of full article.
Tips for teachers to beat the cold and keep kids safe
How to tell when a child is too cold and at risk for hypothermia
Winter Safety Tips download from American Academy of Pediatrics
and more....
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Did you know we have a whole page of Free Articles for you in our Featured Articles Page written by Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer. Retired Educator.
Topics include:
Grants
Supervision & Safety
Playgrounds
Recess
Inclement Weather
Play
Alternatives to Withholding Recess
Physical Activity
Bullying
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NEED IDEAS FOR HOW TO HAVE RECESS WHEN IT'S RAINING OR SNOWING OUTSIDE? | |
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When it's too cold to go outside take recess inside.
Use the Indoor Games rugs in a classroom, cafeteria or gym!
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2-Go Games Rugs which are great for Brain Break Activities integrate physical activity with academic learning standards designed for indoor classroom movement and learning. The 2-Go Games Program includes 6 colorful large game mats and 180 matching student table cards with markers. Enough for 6 full classrooms! | | |
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Above, example of one rug set. Rug, games cards, equipment bean bags and markers. | |
2 Go Games Uses
The new 2 Go Indoor Games Program Kit includes everything you need to create and implement an exciting indoor Peaceful Playground activity in your classroom, church or daycare center. The perfect solution for after school programs, rainy/snow day activities, physical education stations, volunteer led activities, youth groups, YMCA’s and much more. Great for Response to Intervention activities. 2 Go Indoor Games Program are activities that are highly motivating as kids think they are learning while playing. 2 Go Indoor Games are ideal for classroom stations and the table cards allow for 30 students to participate in each game. The program integrates learning through movement activities while enforcing academic concepts in a fun learning environment..
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Indoor Games Unboxing Video | |
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Do you already have the 2 Go Games Rugs and love them? We're looking for some testimonials on how they've worked for you and improved your classroom, indoor recess or PE time.
Please email your testimonial to officestaff@peacefulplaygrounds.com
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FREE DOWNLOADABLE US MAP GAMES BOOK WITH PURCHASE OF A US MAP STENCIL | |
How to Have a Peaceful Playground Training | |
This online course is a great option to give a refresher on the recess program annually or to train new staff to your school.
This is a one hour self paced course. Your purchase for an individual $99 or a school site license $999 gives you two weeks to access the course and receive a certificate of completion for CE credits.
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“We loved our Peaceful Playground training. This program has transformed our recess time. Simple games, the inclusion of all students and loads of procedures have made our recess time trouble free. Thank you Peaceful Playgrounds!”
– Ruthie Rayner, Principal, Hupfeld Academy West Virginia
Goals:
1. Acquire skills to improve your playground
2. Understand what goes wrong on a typical playground.
3. Learn 5 research-based solutions for what goes wrong on a typical playground.
4. Learn to establish rules and procedures for safe play on playgrounds.
To read the Course Description, Target Audience, and Learning Materials included click here.
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Play Nice! Equipment Fun Pack Contest
Enter to Win!
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Play Nice! Equipment Fun Pack Contest
Enter your school today in the Play Nice! Equipment Fun Pack Contest.
Share a picture of you doing something fun on your playground with the hashtag, #playnicefunpack and #peacefulplaygrounds for an extra entry.
This Equipment pack includes 42 pieces of equipment. This equipment pack can be used at recess for each grade level, in Physical Education class, before/after school programs.
which includes 6 of each:
- junior footballs,
- junior basketballs,
- soccer balls,
- official volleyballs
- playground balls,
- along with assorted color cones
- and mesh bags
This package is appropriate for elementary schools.
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January Winner
Jennifer Rich - North Shelby Elementary, MO
Please contact the office to collect your prize T:951.245.6970 or officestaff@peacefulplaygrounds.com
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Blackstone Elementary, IL 2024 Equipment Fun Pack Winners! | |
Direct Links to our Most Popular Programs
Need Assistance??? officestaff@peacefulplaygrounds.com
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