Playground Articles

Schools Role in the Childhood Obesity Crisis

What can our schools do to create a healthy environment which combats childhood obesity? I explore some of our schools’ false starts in tackling the childhood obesity crisis and conclude with the role schools can play in solving the problem.

Ten Tips to Getting Your Grant Funded

A grant is a monetary award given by a government agency, foundation, corporation, or other entity to another body in order to plan, implement or operate a particular program or fund a particular project. Learn how to get your playground grant funded.

Can Physical Education Make You Smarter?

Research has indicated that physical activity results in increased problem solving skills and attention skills in children upon returning to class. Which exercise is best and how long must one exercise to see beneficial changes?

Keeping Kids Cool at School

Principals and physical educators face daily decisions regarding children’s heat health on the playground. Children seldom complain when over heated and most children rarely self regulate. So how hot is too hot for physical activity?

Schools Teaching Organic Gardening

Local schools are implementing gardens which allow for hands-on-learning in a variety of educational subjects. School gardens are a fun way to expand student interest and involvement in their own education and their own long-term health care.

Right to Recess Campaign

Despite mounting evidence that kids need an outlet to blow off steam, learn to interact with others and get the exercise they need, nearly 40 percent of American elementary schools have either eliminated or are considering eliminating recess.

Healthy Food, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

Peaceful Playgrounds champions the efforts of individuals and organizations who actively work towards creating healthy bodies and minds. One such person we’d like to spotlight as a health advocate is Alice Waters.

Why Play?

Play is the spontaneous activity in which children engage to amuse and to occupy themselves. It is also a way children optimize their own brain development. Why Play? To answer that question we must first understand the importance of play.

Head Start Body Start in Body Building?

Head Start Body Start is new Federal program aimed at giving preschoolers a head start on future healthy behaviors and good health. Almost a million children will receive not only a head start, but a body start, with academic and physical preparation.

Case Study Could Shape Physical Education Across Nation

Less than 36% of students are receiving elementary school physical education. Much to the dismay of physical educators, concerned parents, public health advocates and pediatricians, the public policy mandating physical education has been largely ignored.

Bullying Prevention: Life Lessons on Good and Evil

As educators, we have an opportunity each day to teach the lesson of good action vs. evil action in school bullying situations. Bullying in schools is one of the most prevalent problems facing schools today. Why have anti-bullying programs met with so little success?

School Recess before Lunch

A few brave principals across the nation are bringing a long standing school tradition to an end. They are advocating recess before lunch. Kids eat more, waste less food, return to class calmer, behave better and as a result, instruction time is increased.

Countdown to Good Health: 5-4-3-2-1 Go

Students are teaching students the 5-4-3-2-1 principle, which advocates five servings of fruits and vegetables, four glasses of water, three servings of low-fat dairy products, two hours or less of screen time and one hour or more of exercise daily.

Playground Liability: Accident or Injury

Many school playground deaths and injuries could be prevented if playground layouts were designed with safety in mind. Injuries are often found to be preventable through established rules and "active" supervision.

Schoolwide Discipline: What Works?

Lack of discipline has been identified as one of the most serious problems facing the nation's educational system. Well organized and orderly schools promote positive interactions and belongingness rather than an emphasis on punishment.

Recess is on the Upswing

The growing support for daily recess is gaining momentum. Parents, educators, and public health organizations have all engaged in the effort to bring back daily recess for elementary school students.

Low-Cost High-Activity Playgrounds

Research shows that schools do not need expensive playground equipment to keep kids active. Simple playthings such as balls, jump ropes, hula hoops and riding toys do more to encourage physical activity than swings, jungle gyms and other playground equipment.

Why Bullying Programs Succeed or Fail

Thirty-six states have passed anti-bullying legislation which is indicative of the growing concern over bullying in schools. Systemic changes in the school environment in the form of school climate initiatives take time to implement bringing about the change.

Nutrition in Schools - Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity has captured the attention of legislators, educators, policy makers and the general public who are aware of the problem and joining forces to stop this epidemic. Schools appear to be the most promising setting to begin to battle the epidemic.

Melinda Bossenmeyer

Melinda writes articles on education, physical education, recess, physical activity, and playgrounds

Dr. Bossenmeyer is the President and developer of the Peaceful Playgrounds Program. She is a retired county office administrator and past elementary school principal. She spent 27 years as an educator and is the author of six published books on playgrounds and numerous articles on recess, playgrounds and play.

Melinda has presented over 100 conference sessions. She is recognized as a playground design expert, is Nationally Certified as a Playground Inspector, and served as a board member on the National Program for Playground Safety. She is the past chair for the Council on Play for AAHPERD and recently served as a writer on the California Physical Education Framework for the Department of Education. She publishes the Play Nice! newsletter for 10,000 administrators and teachers across the nation.

Dr. Bossenmeyer became interested in the childhood obesity crisis as a member of State Superintendent of Schools Jack O'Connell's California Task Force on Childhood Obesity, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease. She is an "expert witness" in legal cases involving physical education and recess injuries. Contact Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer

Andrea Bossenmeyer

Andrea focuses on articles about nutrition, health, and childhood obesity. She is an opinionated environmentalist, Reiki Master, vegetarian, pit bull owning health advocate.

Her entertainment industry and motion picture production background add a sense of style and flare to her article contributions.

As Sales and Marketing Director for Peaceful Playgrounds, her contributions allow her to grow, learn, influence others, influence children and result in a positive change in the earth all around. Contact Andrea Bossenmeyer

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Melinda Bossenmeyer

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