Ashley Falls’ Social Climate - Peaceful Playground Information

By Pamela Donovan
Ashley Falls School - San Diego, CA
February 2005

Have you noticed how peaceful Ashley Falls’ playground is? This year we are implementing the Peaceful Playgrounds program.

The program provides consistent rules and expectations and the opportunity for students of all ages to participate in fun and engaging games. You may notice the new colorful designs painted on the playground.

These new designs allow for more game choices, which results in fewer problems and increased engagement in activities. Over the next few weeks, the teachers will be teaching the games to the students so that all students understand the rules and are ready for success.

Conflict management is one of the key components of the program. Students will be taught to Walk, Talk, or Rock.

1. Walk: A resolution is reached by avoiding the situation. Often a child will conflict with the same child day after day while participating in the same activity. This child finds another game to play, therefore avoiding the situation.
    
2. Talk: Two children take time to talk out the difference and find out what happened. This method ends with an agreed upon solution.
    
3. Rock: The game Rock-Paper-Scissors is implemented as a way to settle disagreements. If two children playing a game disagree on a judgment call, they will settle it by playing Rock-Paper-Scissors.

I would like to extend a special thank you to all of the parents who helped paint the playground, the PTA for their support, and Lisa Granet for her extensive research. Without their help the implementation of this program would not be possible.

I would like to encourage you to ask your child about the new games and about how they are using Talk, Walk, and Rock successfully on the playground.

Thank you for all of your support and feel free to contact me with any questions at extension 3016. Together we can make our playground a fun, engaging, and peaceful place to play.

Pamela Donovan
Assistant Principal

Ashley Falls School
13030 Ashley Falls Drive
San Diego, CA 92130