Research Based - NCLB Compliant Playground Program

A Review of Scientifically Based Research

Playground markings are currently a popular intervention strategy in the increasing epidemic of childhood obesity. Playground Markings increase children’s physical activity levels.

Scientifically based research cited in the literature review demonstrates that a research base exists to support the use of playground markings for improving children’s physical activity levels.

Research conclusions from this review include:

Increase children’s physical activity levels. Use of playground markings is effective in increasing the amount of physical activity.
Increase children’s energy expenditures. Students utilizing playground markings increased their energy expenditure significantly over the control groups.
Increase activity levels in primary and junior schools. Use of playgrounds painted with multicolored markings increase physical activity.
Decrease bullying. Use of playground markings, in conjunction with the Peaceful Playgrounds Program, were found to decrease playground bullying.
Decrease playground confrontations. Use of playground markings, in conjunction with the Peaceful Playgrounds Program, were found to decrease playground confrontations.
Decrease playground injuries. Use of playground markings, in conjunction with the Peaceful Playground program, were shown to decrease playground injuries.

"The Peaceful Playgrounds Program significantly reduced injuries while at the same time dramatically reduced the incidences of rule infractions and misbehavior."

Research Results & Recommendations

Results from this study are clearly promising and this novel, inexpensive intervention which used the children to help select game markings, has potential to improve the health of children by increasing their energy expenditure through the promotion of physically active recess games.

Overall, the results suggest that playground painting can be a low-cost method of significantly increasing children’s daily physical activity levels in the short term. If these increases can be sustained on playgrounds designed in this way, it could be a valuable contribution to health-related physical activity recommendations for young people.

United States Department of Education Classic Program Recognition Blueprint and Promising programs have been determined by the United States Department of Education's Safe and Drug-Free School and Community Program research; Classic and Emerging programs have been selected by the California Hate Crime Task Force. Four specific criteria were used by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence for selecting and identifying Blueprint or Promising programs for United States Department of Education. Strong Research Design. Evidence of Significant Prevention or Deterrent Effects. Multiple Site Replication. Sustained Effects. Peaceful Playgrounds was a highlighted program in the curriculum category for the Promising Practices in After School Programming List Serve. Peaceful Playgrounds is a physical activity program that has shown to decrease playground injuries, decrease bullying, and increase children's physical activity levels. The National Guideline Clearinghouse recommends our activities as a way to increase time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity during unstructured recess time. Increasing physical activity in schools: kindergarten through eighth grade.. Use pre-developed design templates specifically designed to increase physical activity on the playground. Playground Markings and Activities are available from Peaceful Playgrounds.
Action for Healthy Kids: What's Working - Peaceful Playgrounds - Best in Class. Evaluation by a nationwide initiative that acts to decrease the incidence of childhood obesity by improving nutrition and increasing physical activity in schools, which will improve children's readiness to learn. - 39kb - 2 Pages View with Adobe Acrobat Reader
Take Time! Physical Activity in Schools Initiative: Physical Activity Programs for Schools. The following programs have been either research tested and proven effective or reviewed and considered to be a promising practice. - 232kb - 6 Pages View with Adobe Acrobat Reader
Classic and Promising Program Status: Peaceful Playgrounds- Anti violence and anti bullying. Violence or hate behavior prevention programs toolkit - 97kb - 27 Pages View with Adobe Acrobat Reader
Promising Practice After School Programming: We Count Pedometer Wellness Program. The Whole Story - Promising Practices in After School - 56kb - 3 Pages View with Adobe Acrobat Reader
Physical Education Best Practices Initiatives - Wisconsin: Recess Ideas that Compliment Physical Education Class. A sample of physical education initiatives in Wisconsin - 58kb - 1 Page View with Adobe Acrobat Reader

Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) Evaluation Bullying and feelings of safety, seemed to improve over the course of the grant, and students improved as assessed by the Clark Motor Skills Inventory and the We Count pedometer program. Saugus Union School District has H.E.A.R.T. - Final Report January 2006 - 21 Pages - 188kb View with Adobe Acrobat Reader

State Department of Education and Health Department Citations

A Plan for Playground Games
Louisiana Department of Education - Action for Healthy Kids

A case study examines the effects of the Peaceful Playgrounds The Effects of Peaceful Playgrounds on Injury Reduction February 2005

San Diego County Consortium Physical Education for Progress The San Diego County Consortium (SDCC) was designed to provide standards-based curriculum, equipment and instructional support for physical education programs in elementary schools without physical education specialists. Peaceful Playgrounds PEP Project Evaluation August 2005 - 47kb View with Adobe Acrobat Reader

California Obesity Prevention Initiative COPI and its partners work to create environments and policies that support physical activity and healthy eating for all Californians. Final Obesity Prevention Initiative (OPI) Evaluation Report April 2005 - 120kb View with Adobe Acrobat Reader

Peaceful Playgrounds

A Program to Reduce Playground Injuries in School Settings
August 2004 - 15 Pages - 92kb
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San Diego County Office of Education
Instructional Television Presentation

Shaping Up: It's Elementary
Solutions for Childhood Obesity.
PEP Grant Components.
SPARK and Peaceful Playgrounds.
View this 30 minute program with RealPlayer...

PLAYGROUND RESEARCH PROJECTS AT A GLANCE
School District	ST	Funding	Project Description - Services
Saugus Union	CA	PEP Grant	Peaceful Playgrounds in 14 schools including program, training, equipment and research on program results looking at improving physical activity levels, decreasing bullying and improving motor skill acquisition
California Obesity Prevention Initiative	CA	Department of Health Services	Study in 4 San Diego City Schools to create environments and policies that support physical activity and healthy eating. Final Obesity Prevention Initiative (OPI) Evaluation Report
Whittier City Schools After-school Programs	CA	PEP Grant	12 Schools receiving Peaceful Playgrounds and Fundamental Movement Programs for after school programming.
Curran Elementary	CA	TUPE Funds	6 year study on injuries and rule infractions on playground. Published in School Safety Magazine Oct. 1998. Won Golden Bell Award for outstanding program in safety category based on research results. A Program to Reduce Playground Injuries in School Settings
San Diego Consortium Physical Education for Progress	CA	PEP Grant	Peaceful Playgrounds in 14 schools including program, training, equipment and research on program results looking at conflict resolution, physical activity levels, playground referrals and injuries. Peaceful Playgrounds PEP Project Evaluation
National Survey of Peaceful Playgrounds Purchasers	US	Peaceful Playgrounds	National Survey of customer satisfaction levels regarding Peaceful Playgrounds promises.
South Bay Schools In Progress 5 year grant	CA	Robert Wood Foundation	Research on children’s physical activity levels before, during recess and after school using Peaceful Playgrounds designs.

Download a Copy of our Current Research Projects

Current Playground Research Projects
2006 - 1 Page - 16kb
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