Southdowns Peaceful Playground

Southdown Primary School has often been a trailblazer, with a tradition of very involved parents who have never had a problem rolling up their collective sleeves and volunteering to work on a school improvement project of one sort or another.

This year’s group of parents and staff members fit in perfectly with their predecessors of the past 53 years.

“At any school, the playground is always the place that brings about the most injuries and arguments between children,” Southdown Principal Michelle Marino said. “Free choice does not always mean good choice and children are playing games, like soccer, with as many different rules as players themselves. Right there you have controversy and the opportunity for negative action.”

Mrs. Marino had these thoughts in mind during a visit to another school that had operated a “Peaceful Playground” for several years. “After further research I approached my PTA with my request for the Peaceful Playground and they jumped at the opportunity to purchase and support the program.”

Once that decision was made, the Southdown school community went to work with parents and staff toiling long hours under a hot summer sun to measure, tape and stencil and paint the litany of colorful blacktop games that comprise the program.

“The games range from independent to cooperative and competitive,” Mrs. Marino said. “There’s something for everyone. The developmentally appropriate designs enhance motor development, cognitive development, and play preferences."

The best part of all is the consistency, according to Mrs. Marino. “Everyone is playing with the same set of rules,” she said.

Southdown’s physical education teachers, Theresa E. Matthews and Christopher Taylor are in the midst of a two week program that has them working with classes to help students learn each game and provide them with time to practice playing.

“Conflict resolution is an integral part of the program and once again, children are taught how to resolve conflicts appropriately with direct teaching and modeling,” Mrs. Marino said.

The games include: Alphabet grids to practice the alphabet or even spelling words in a fun learning environment; Alphabet track for eye-foot coordination, locomotor movement practice, sequencing and alphabet recognition and identification; Ball hopscotch for eye-hand coordination, eye-foot coordination and number sequence; Bean bag Four Square, a team game promoting eye-hand coordination; Bean bag toss target game to promote eye-hand coordination, as well as practice skip counting by 5’s; Cross-over walking grid to help mid-line development and left-right discrimination.

Still more games are: Freeze Out; Four Corners; Four Square; Galloping track; Hopscotch; Multi-Use Square; Multi-Use Circle; Scattered Circles and Skipping Track. “All of these games target skills,” Mrs. Marino said.

Mrs. Matthews designed the playground and parent-volunteer Jeannie Dempsey acted as the “general contractor” for the three-day project by lining up other volunteers, drawing lines, coordinating assignments and painting. The finished product is helping Southdown blaze another new trail.