Peaceful Playgrounds in the News

Radio Disney

Backyard Radio Show - May 2006 - 30 Minutes
Playground Safety: An interview with Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer.
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KPBS Radio San Diego

These Days with Tom Fudge: Play - Part 1 - Part 2 - October 2001
It’s a new world of play for today’s kids, but is it a better one?
Interview with Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer.

Osawatomie Graphic - Osawatomie, KS
Program Levels Playground Playing Field - December 2009
The program was made possible by a government grant, and brings some stability to the otherwise volatile playground environment by instituting more structure...

Whittier Daily News - Whittier, CA
Playing Nice Just Got a Little Easier for Nelson Elementary - December 2009
Kids will be able to play hopscotch, four square, around the world, pickle and volley tennis - and they'll all be playing by the same rules...

PNW News - Puget Sound, WA
CKSD Bringing Peace to the Playground - November 2009
Jackson Park Elementary School students play shadow tag rather than the traditional version as part of Central Kitsap School District’s new Peaceful Playground program...

CBS WLUK-TV - Appleton, WI
Appleton School Solves Recess Conflicts - September 2009
With children taking more ownership over the playground and really taking ownership of problem solving and conflict resolution they feel better about themselves...

Pine River Journal - Pine River, MN
Eagle View boasts Peaceful Playground - September 2009
Schools that have used the Peaceful Playground program have seen the occurrence of negative issues on their playgrounds decrease since starting the program...

Chicago Tribune - Highland Park, IL
Peaceful Playgrounds Create Colorful Backdrop for Engaging Physical Activities - September 2009
Children can enjoy the activities during lunch time recess and they can utilize their own leadership and conflict resolution skills while playing with others...

Brainerd Dispatch - Brainerd, MA
Eagle View Students are in for a Nice Surprise - September 2009
Teachers and parents volunteered their time to provide new colorful play areas for students when they go back to school...

Columbus News - Columbus, OH
Parents Purport Paint Job Creates Peaceful Playground - August 2009
For the kids that are the prime targets for bullies, this gives them something to do where they're not the loser...

Sheboygan Falls News - Plymouth, WI
Sheboygan Falls Elementary Playground Gets a Makeover - August 2009
When the kids play these games, they learn to follow common rules and how to deal with problems that might come up during the course of a game...

Oklahoman - Oklahoma City, OK
Grants Take Kids a Hop, Skip and Jump from Video Games - June 2009
Schools for Healthy Lifestyles awarded $2,000 grants to 10 schools to provide training, equipment and supplies to bring the Peaceful Playgrounds program to the schools...

Herald-Standard - Uniontown, PA
Principal Hopes to Implement Peaceful Playground - June 2009
Imagine a playground without pushing, shoving or kids standing on the sideline of the activities feeling left out. That's what a California Area Middle School did...

Hometown Observer- Detroit, MI
Peace! New Playground Equipment Designed for Harmony - June 2009
The school yard is a now a lively place with children shooting baskets, bouncing balls, playing shuffleboard, swinging Hula Hoops on their hips and tossing beanbags...

NewsDay - Melville, NY
Promoting Peaceful Play at Northwest Elementary School - May 2009
Students, staff and community members used stencils and paint to transform their playground into a permanent, colorful arrangement of outdoor games...

Education World : Fit to be Taught - San Diego, CA
Peaceful Playgrounds Inspires Active Play - February 2009
Research has shown the students involved in the program show an increase in physical activity level, a decrease in bullying, and decreases in playground injuries...

Maryland Community Newspapers Online - Fredrick, MD
Urbana Elementary Recognized for Safe Play Video - January 2009
Fifth grade Computer Club members at Urbana Elementary School were elated that their creativity has yielded such positive results for the school...

The Arizona Daily Star - Tucson, AZ
Kids Learn How to Play Nice - January 2009
As part of Peaceful Playgrounds, the existing playground was transformed into a smorgasbord of activities and all it really took was some cans of paint...

The Explorer News - Tucson, AZ
Rethinking Playgrounds - January 2009
Colorful lines, letters, numbers and shapes blanket the courts — all used in a variety of games, including bowling dodge ball and others involving numbers and letters...

Marana Weekly News - Tucson, AZ
Twin Peaks Students Play on Peaceful Playgrounds - January 2009
The program has been proven to reduce conflict, increase motor skills, dramatically reduce injuries and maximize playground efficiency...

CBS KOLD-TV - Tucson, AZ
Marana School Playing with a Change on its Playground - January 2009
There are high expectations with the Peaceful Playgrounds program. It's going to eliminate all the bullies. Plus, there's a surprise bonus. Fewer children getting hurt...

The Standard-Times - Dartmouth, MA
Peaceful Playground Teaches Social Skills - November 2008
During recess, happy children climb the ropes, slide the slide, and ride the swings while learning there is no fighting, pushing or shoving allowed on this playground...

St Cloud Times - St. Cloud, MN
Simple Games Bring New Fun - October 2008
Our idea was to make recess a more valuable learning time and to give kids more options for productive play and hopefully reduce incidents...

KHAS-TV - Hastings, NE
New Playground Teaches Problem Solving Skills - September 2008
They will be able to problem solve on their own. They will have the same expectations, all students will have the same set of rules...

The Daily Record/Sunday News - York, PA
Recreation Plus Education - August 2008
Administration, students and volunteers banded together to help create a new playground for the kids at McKinley Elementary School...

Pine River Journal - Pine River, MN
Pine River Elementary preps for Peaceful Playgrounds - August 2008
Eager elementary students skipping back to Pine River-Backus this fall will be able to extend their skipping - and hopping - to the playground at recess...

KSBI-TV - Oklahoma City, OK
New Piedmont Elementary Playground - August 2008
Jamie Ratliff has the details of a new school playground program aimed at teaching and keeping kids safe during recess...

Times Online - Fort Wayne, IN
Imagine Schools on Broadway to feature Peaceful Playground - August 2008
The playground organization program is called Peaceful Playgrounds and its aim is to topple the centuries-old Darwinian pecking order of the schoolyard...

The Republican - Longmeadow, MA
Parents Plan Play Upgrade - August 2008
This playground model is safer than traditional playground equipment and helps children with motor skills as well as physically keeping them active...

The Altus Times - Altus, OK
Local school achieves Peace on the Playground - June 2008
The program boasts increasing physical activity, a much-needed intervention for the childhood obesity problem sweeping the nation...

Porterville Recorder - Porterville, CA
Learning while playing - June 2008
If you keep the kids involved, they are less likely to get into trouble...

Chicago Daily Herald - Chicago, IL
A Design that Fights Playground Politics - May 2008
The playground's design eliminates competition and fosters teamwork...

Burbank Leader - Burbank, CA
Bringing peace to the playground - March 2008
Parents report seeing tangible improvements in schools as a result of the program...

The Oregonian - Wilsonville, OR
An Updated Playground is More than Play Space - February 2008
The staff saw fewer behavior discipline referrals during recess last month, the first month the new playground has really been up and running...

The Republican - Palmer, MA
Playground makes for Peaceful Recess - January 2008
The playground concept has cut down injuries and fights and is giving pupils a better recess...

The Huntington Public Schools Headline
Southdown’s Peaceful Playground - November 2007
Everyone is playing with the same set of rules...

Naples Daily News
Playground Favorites Making Comeback - October 2007
In just one year, behavioral referrals decreased from 587 to 187, in a school with 900 students...

The Doings LaGrange - La Grange, IL
St. Cletus School Brings Peace to the Playground - October 2007
Recess is truly what you make of it. St. Cletus Catholic School have adopted a way to make what was once a rough-and-tumble type of recess into a peaceful playground...

Ventura County Star Newspaper - Ventura, CA
Playground program aims to boost activity - October 2007
Whichever strategy they use, children can resolve conflicts quickly and by themselves...

Downers Grove Reporter - Downers Grove, IL
Playground helps resolve conflict - September 2007
The Peaceful Playground empowers children to have fast effective ways to resolve issues that come up normally during play...

Daily Citizen - Beaver Dam, WI
A Better Recess - December 2006
Even returning from recess has become more peaceful...

The Boston Globe - New Boston, NH
N.H. Schools Move Beyond Traditional Playgrounds - November 2006
The goal is to reduce conflicts and violence by providing a wide variety of physically and intellectually challenging activities...

Teacher Talk Magazine - Park Ridge, IL
Field puts Peace of Mind into Playgrounds - February 2006
Students are learning to take ownership of problem solving. They love this program...

W. L. Morse Newsletter - Sleepy Hollow, NY
New Peaceful Playground - April 2006
Children were distributed evenly, laughing and playing peacefully...

The Mount Prospect Times - Park Ridge, IL
Games gain popularity on school playground - November 2005
Students said they like the variety of games, and more children are moving during recess...

The Harold-Advocate - Park Ridge, IL
Schools add cooperative games to playgrounds - September 2005
Old school yard favorites such as hopscotch and four square are re-emerging...

The Easton Journal - Easton, MA
New playground awaits at Olmsted School - August 2005
A Peaceful Playground will allow students to choose from 50 games to play when they go outside...

The Tracy Press - Tracy, CA
Two Tracy Girl Scouts are Golden - May 2005
She measured and painted a colorful series of lessons and games around the playground...

The Wichita Eagle - Wichita, KS
Remember tag? Red Rover? No more - April 2005
To limit injuries and discipline problems, schools employ a host of playground rules...

Southwest Journal - Minneapolis, MN
At Armatage, a Peaceful Playground - April 2005
It has been successful because it continues the school day rather than interrupts it...

Louisiana Department of Education
A Plan for Playground Games - March 2005
As many as 80 percent of children voluntarily participate in game play...

San Diego County Office of Education
Effects of Peaceful Playgrounds on Injury Reduction - February 2005
The Peaceful Playgrounds Program significantly reduced playground injuries...

Ashley Falls' School News
Ashley Falls' Social Climate - Peaceful Playground Information - February 2005
Conflict management is one of the key components of the program...

Corvallis Gazette-Times
The New Rules - Playground monitors emphasize behavior expectations - January 2005
Parents, as well as staff, see a difference in the overall school environment...

Kane County Chronicle
School Program Cuts Down on Injuries, Resolves Conflicts - September 2004
It's fun because it's very athletic...

Redlands Daily Facts
Bringing Peace to the Playground - August 2004
Strategies for avoiding playground conflicts and resolving those that do arise...

Goffstown News
Center Woods Elementary School - August 2004
The students will benefit the most, and it's worth the money, the time and the effort...

Terra Wellington's Balanced Living
Back to School - Recess and P.E. Critical to Success - July 2004
New studies show daily fitness equals better report cards and more-focused children...

The Breeze-Courier
More Fun with Productive Play - October 2003
This makes recess more organized. There is less rough-housing and hostility...

Rogers Hometown News
Bellview places principles on Peaceful Playground - September 2003
The Peaceful Playground offered a perfect solution...

The Breeze-Courier
North School PTA Organizing School into Peaceful Playground - September 2003
Too many times the playground becomes an area of intense competition...

Mount Shasta News
Mount Shasta Playground Now Peaceful - September 2003
The playground is now painted with a variety of learning games...

PTO Today Magazine
A Plan for Playground Games - April 2003
Children can handle their own problems if only we give them a few skills...

Today's Playground Magazine
The Lay of the Land - Summer 2002
Peaceful Playgrounds Program Helps Organize School Yards...

Paleastra Magazine Cover Story
A Perfect Playground - Fun for Everyone! - Part 1 - Part 2 - Spring 2002
Children in every area are laughing and playing peacefully...

San Diego Union Tribune
Carlsbad school achieves peace on the playground - May 2002
One of the most effective keys to diffusing playground problems...

American Association for Leisure and Recreation
Friend of Recreation Award - 2002
The Peaceful Playgrounds Program has been implemented in over 8,000 schools...

South Elementary School Web
Parents Information - 2001
Conflicts and rough play have been reduced to a minimum...

Family Circle Magazine
From the Editor - April 1998
Play Nice! One Playground that Works.

National School Safety Center
School Safety Update - October 1998
Peaceful Playgrounds minimizes injuries, confrontations.

California School Boards Association
Golden Bell Award - 1999
Playground safety program brought about an 82% drop in injuries...

Pioneer Elementary
How to have Peaceful Playgrounds - 1999
It gives our students structured games to engage in and allows them to learn skills that they would not otherwise have the opportunity to learn...

Press Enterprise
Murrieta School Honored - December 1999
Statewide award goes to Curran Elementary for it's Peaceful Playgrounds program...

California State University San Marcos
Eliminate Recess? Let's Skip It! - Document
Some educators see the "all work and no play" ethic as explainable...

The Californian
School Receives Safety Award - December 1999
This shows what we can accomplish when we all work together...

The Northwest Herald
Play Right
The difference is phenomenal. It's like a miracle happened...