PEACEFUL PLAYGROUNDS ENHANCES LEARNING, PREVENTS BULLYING AND PROMOTES POSITIVE SOCIAL INTERACTION ON THE PLAYGROUND.

Unlike other playground companies we offer a do-it-yourself low-cost alternative.

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Featured Article

5 Tips for A Kid Friendly Playground

Peaceful Playgrounds shares Five Tips for a Kid Friendly Playground based on their research on playgrounds. These 5 easy to implementation tips can make a big difference in kids feeling safe on the playground.

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 another game. Fortunately, the playground was filled with alternate game choices and two other four-square courts. Allison selected one of those courts and soon was happily involved in another four-square game. This time she didn’t ask, but rather waited in line by the letter D.

Permission is it a good idea?

It was an interesting observation for a number of reasons. I began to dissect what happened and why. In the first situation, Allison asked for permission to play. The question, “Can I play?”, allowed Janey the opportunity to respond and in fact, reject the request.

In the second situation, Allison simply stood in line and waited her turn. No one challenged her right to play. She didn’t ask permission but rather followed the rules of the playground and when her turn came she merely stepped onto the court. No one challenged her right to do so.

Entwined within the actions of young children was a lesson. When you act in accordance with the school rules (wait in line and go in when appropriate), that behavior makes rejection less likely.

Exclusion is not always playground bullying

I’ve been working on an online bullying prevention course for school staff, which meets state requirements for staff training. This reminded me of what I’ve been writing about, the ways in which girls bully. Girls typically get involved with indirect types of bullying, for example, nasty staring, spreading rumors, manipulating friendships, and excluding peers. The four girls who turned Allison away all participated in Janey’s decree of “You can’t play.” However, it wasn’t bullying as typically described, because there was no mention of a power differential. The intent to hurt was questionable. Although it didn’t meet the classic criteria for bullying, the activity was still hurtful, as evidenced by Allison’s reaction. Read below to find out how this situation might be addressed

To continue reading the article and view the 5 tips click here.

Online Training

Playground Games & Strategies

The “Playground Games and Strategies to Improve Recess” course was designed to introduce administrators, teachers, substitute teachers, physical educators, parents, after-school personnel, and playground supervisors to the responsibilities and strategies associated with organizing a successful recess.

This course outlines how to make recess safe, fun, and orderly without “structuring recess”.

Learn more about the course

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Interested in our other courses? See below.

How to Have A Peaceful Playgrounds Online

Pedometer Walking Program Training

Grant Writing Course

Recess Before Lunch Training

Low Cost, High Activity Playground

Playground and Strategies for Improving Recess

60 Seconds for Self Regulation

"Make It" No Equipment Card Set

This set of indoor activities is perfect for the COVID-19 situation where students shouldn’t share equipment. Each student can make their own Fortune Teller or Activity Dice.

The set of 14 Fortune Tellers and 6 Activity Dice Sets.

The Fortune Teller is an origami used for children’s games. Children love the hand games and choices inherent in the Fortune Teller Games. Use the Easter, Cinco De Mayo, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Groundhog, and St. Patrick’s Day Fortune Teller games on rainy days, snow days or indoor recess and P.E. Bonus: Bullying Prevention Fortune Teller.

Kids will love this easy-to-play and highly entertaining games that are easy to make and inexpensive. Just print and scan the QR code for a video of easy to follow folding instructions for students.

Each of the 14 sets contains a colored Fortune Teller, a black and white Fortune Teller, and a Design-Your-Own-Game Fortune Teller to download and let children fill in sports fun sayings or activities for the appropriate holiday.

The Dice sets include a number dice and an activity dice for Football, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Exercise, and Outdoor activities. Blank dice are included for making up your own activities.

Some of the games have 2 Levels of games: Basic and Advanced.

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One Minute Tip Video

Play Nice! Equipment Fun Pack Contest

Enter to Win!

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: