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Parents Purport Paint Job Creates Peaceful Playground
By Bret Liebendorfer Working on their hands and knees, parent volunteers have been busy painting symbols and patterns they hope will upgrade the Norwich Elementary School playground. The volunteers are working to turn the space into a Peaceful Playground, which aims to increase exercise and educational opportunities while decreasing bullying. Examples of the new designs that will be painted before the start of the school year include a giant United States map, number grids, a letter walkway and a giant circle large enough to fit an entire class around. Most games are noncompetitive and focus on a common goal for the group. "For the kids that are the prime targets for bullies, this gives them something to do where they're not the loser," said Mary Chace, a parent of two children at Norwich and a member of the school's Wellness Committee. The idea for the program, which is designed for children between kindergarten and sixth grade, came from Playground Designer Melinda Bossenmeyer after her time as a principal in Southern California. More than 7,000 similar programs exist across the county including ones in Columbus and Westerville, but Chace said often the school's staff is not taught how to incorporate them. The goal at Norwich is for gym teachers to teach standard rules to students, and for teachers to use the program in their lessons about subjects such as colors, shapes, spelling, math or directions.
"For educators that are creative, they can think of some really cool things," Chace said. Chace said the school's PTO has been active the last five years expanding the opportunities at the playground by raising funds, securing grants and volunteering their labor for initiatives like an outdoor classroom and a $12,000 asphalt walking path that is one-sixth of a mile. Students log their miles walked and some have traveled the distance equivalent from Hilliard to the North Pole. "We greatly underestimate how much these kids need to exercise," Chace said, adding research shows one-third of children are obese and all districts are affected. The low-impact games should reduce injuries such as the three broken arms Chace said students suffered last year. Also, the program's cost of $1,000 plus paint is cheap compared to traditional playgrounds units which can cost $20,000 each. "I want other PTOs to know that the program is inexpensive and this is something they can easily add to their playground," Chace said. For more information visit peacefulplaygrounds.com.
Columbus Local News - Parents Purport Paint Job Creates Peaceful Playground |
