Peaceful Playgrounds

New Study: Daily PE Key to Improving Health

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:57:00 +0000

School-based physical education plays a key role in curbing obesity and improving fitness among adolescents from low-income communities, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and UC Berkeley. The study, which identifies opportunities for adolescents to improve their health based on routine daily activities, finds that regular participation in PE class is significantly associated with greater cardiovascular fitness and lower body mass index.

"This research will help support moving physical education policy forward. Clearly, physical education in schools is an underutilized tool in our efforts to reduce pediatric obesity," said Patricia Crawford, DrPH, RD, the study's senior author and director of the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Center for Weight and Health at UC Berkeley.

Read more on PE Key to Improving Health....

Obesity and Lack of Physical Education Obstacles to Military Readiness

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:48:00 +0000

A recently released report, "Ready, Willing and Unable to Serve," states that the military had one of its best recruiting years since the draft ended in 1973. This is especially surprising since about 75 percent of the country's 17- to 24-year-olds are ineligible for military service, largely because they are poorly educated, overweight and have physical ailments that make them unfit for the armed forces, according to the report issued Thursday.

"When you get kids who can't do push-ups, pull-ups or run, this is a fundamental problem not just for the military but for the country," said Curtis Gilroy, the Pentagon's director of accessions policy. Many kids are not "taking physical education in school; they're more interested in sedentary activities such as the computer or television. And we have a fast-food mentality in this country."

So how did the military hit its recruiting goals? Military officials say their recent success is due to increased spending on recruiting and bonuses, which in the Army went from an average of less than $8,000 in 2000 to more than $18,000 in 2008. A dismal economy, which drove up civilian unemployment, helped fill the ranks as well.

Parent Petition Saves Recess

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:12:00 +0000

De Kalb County School Board voted to reinstate recess as a result of a parent petition. While most schools held recess, it was not mandated and could be denied to a child as a punishment or canceled for the entire class due to a conflict.

Now, recess is no longer an option but a requirement and cannot be withheld from a student.

Read how other parents and concerned advocates have saved recess.

Download the Peaceful Playgrounds Right to Recess Campaign Toolbox for saving recess at your school.You can have the Peaceful Playgrounds Right to Recess Campaign Toolbox sent directly to your email box. The campaign toolbox contains a full PowerPoint presentation and speakers notes along with all research and documents to support daily, unstructured physical activity during school hours. Use the Right to Recess Toolbox to let your community know that kids deserve and NEED recess!

A sample petition used to save recess in De Kalb County can be find here.

Picture and article modified from Get Schooled which features information and conversation about education in Atlanta, Georgia and the nation.
By author/blogger Maureen Downey

November Play Nice Newsletter

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:15:00 +0000

Did you receive the November Play Nice Newsletter?

This month's newsletter provides information regarding an article on "Can Physical Education Make You Smarter", A Recess Controversy, H1N1, a recent legal ruling regarding Recess and Peaceful Playgrounds New Online Playground Supervisor Training.

Punishment at Recess

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:02:00 +0000

A mom is peeved at an Oklahoma school which reportedly punished her son by having him stand facing a wall at recess. The parent claims that he was told to stand close enough to the wall to touch it with his nose. The punishment was for failing to finish a homework assignment.

"I think it's a horrible policy. I think it's humiliating and I think it's disgusting," the parent reported to the school. "It was extremely traumatic. When he called me, he was crying. He was very upset."

The Oklahoma TV station that covered the story has a video and poll on their website.

SURVEY
Do you think the Oklahoma school's punishment (having the student stand facing the building during recess) for not turning in homework was excessive?

Comment to this blog and make your opinion heard.

By the way, Peaceful Playgrounds published and article "60 Alternatives to Withholding Recess". Check it out.

Featured Article: Can Physical Education Make You Smarter?

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:19:00 +0000

For some time, researchers have known that exercise changes the structure of the brain, resulting in improvements in concentration, fidgeting and creates new brain cells.

The body-mind link is well documented. But current thinking and actions (like eliminating recess and physical education) leads me to question if some decisions reflect the cliché that "our bodies exist to carry our heads around."Current thinking on the topic however, acknowledges, "Any thinking has the whole body participating."

More.....Can PE Make You Smarter?

Recess Controversy

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:39:00 +0000

A decision was reached in the legal case involving the 4th graders who were reading the Bible at recess and were told to stop. It seems a parent observed the activity and complained.

The parents of one of the Bible reading students sued with the assistance of the Alliance Defense Team . The parents sued for just one dollar, recognition that their child's rights had been violated, and an injunction against future such actions.

The school claimed it was all a misunderstanding. They contended that a school district policy which limited adult-lead Bible study sessions at school to "before and after school hours" in violation of the policy. The school further contended that recess was an "instructional part of the school day."

The verdict. The school won.

I'm reminded of my education law classes which revealed, "Students leave their rights at the schoolhouse door." However, that appears to be changing........

Background information and other articles on topic...

Can we all just play nice?

School Paints Peaceful Playgrounds U.S. Map for geography lessons

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:13:00 +0000

The Express Star News
Story from the Chickashanews.com
October 30, 2009

Putting the Map on Grand

Teachers, students, and PTO members at Grand Avenue Elementary recently finished a Fifty Nifty United States project.

They produced a painted outdoor map of the United States.

The concrete was provided for this large outdoor map of the United States by the Grand Avenue PTO. Peaceful Playgrounds stencils and kit were made possible by the Chickasha School Foundation.

Teachers volunteered their time and talent to paint all the states and bordering oceans.

More on this story.....

When are we too old for play?

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:01:00 +0000

When are we too old for play? Never. At least that's the new philosophy catching on in Japan. They have found that age is just a number when it comes to having fun on a playground.

Every Friday, 79-year-old Saito and a class of senior citizens swing around on a jungle gym, made especially for the elderly, at a Tokyo park.

With fewer and fewer Japanese having children, it made sense for local governments to disassemble old children's playgrounds that need replacing and convert them into fitness parks for the retired.

Playground article with video.

Parents Support Healthier Schools

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:12:00 +0000

Survey for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation finds most parents willing to help schools improve food offerings and increase physical activity.

In fact, vast majority of parents want schools to limit students’ access to high-calorie chips, sodas and candy and to offer them opportunities for physical activity throughout the day, a new survey by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation shows.

The national survey, indicates that nearly eight in 10 parents are ready to get more involved to create a healthier environment in their local schools.

Further, the survey showed that 96 percent of parents believe that physical activity can boost their children’s classroom performance, and virtually all parents (99 percent) recognize that healthy eating also has a positive effect on learning.

More on the AKG Survey....

Sound interesting? Why not join the Healthy Schools Network at Join the Healthy Schools Network at www.HealthierGeneration.org for tools, tips and resources for creating a healthier school environment.

Healthy Fundraising Ideas from Healthy Kids Challenge

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:40:00 +0000

Are you receiving the WOWS Newsletter from the Healthy Kids Challenge?
It is a great resource and full of ideas and tips for keeping kids healthy. Below is a sample of a item that was included in this week's Wednesday Wows Newsletter.

....Easy HEAR-SEE-DO action tips each week

HEAR .... Provide a message to increase awareness of knowledge/skills
SEE .... Show people HOW to make healthy changes
DO .... Help people practice and make healthy changes

Fundraisers that Send a Healthy Message

HEAR

Raise school/program funds AND stay within wellness policies. Now you can have BOTH with the following suggestions!

SEE

* Healthy Kids Dance - Raise funds and GET HEALTHY with Dance for Health™. This unique fundraiser gets families and communities involved in healthy behaviors!

* Alternative Fundraising - Ideas of things to SELL or DO

DO

1. Provide a fun, physically active fundraising event, like Dance for Health™! HKC offers a Dance for Health™ kit that has everything you need to know -- ideas for a press release, how to collect money, equipment and space needs, healthy snack ideas, and getting local volunteer support. Check it out!

2. Reduce the emphasis on high fat, sugar and salty food gifts by selling healthier food choices like local fruit and nut baskets or a non-food line of products like school T-shirts or calendars.

3. Consider service-oriented fundraisers like holiday gift wrapping or community work days. Fundraising while helping others is a Win/Win!

Better yet, consider a Peaceful Playgrounds option. Why not earn money for a playground games make-over by painting 100 games and markings on the blacktop.
It is economical, fun and a great community building event.

Case continues to build on physical activity and academic performance

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:13:00 +0000

Advocates for school-based physical activity programs argue that allocating time for daily physical education does not adversely impact academic performance. In fact, according to seven studies reviewed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and released in a policy brief called Active Education, the effects of physical activity on elementary students resulted in improvements in academic performace, focus and classroom behavior.

Curran Elementary Celebrates 20th Anniversary

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 07:05:00 +0000

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the 20th Anniversary of the school where I was principal. The school and community is similar in so many ways to school and community that I experienced. We were blessed with caring parents, dedicated teachers and wonderful students.

Curran Elementary holds a special place in my heart. I begin testing my playground theories, experimenting with playground improvements and looking at students interactions. We were an elementary school with 1225 students in a school build for 660. Needless to say, we needed solutions to problems and an organized playground which later formed the foundation of the Peaceful Playgrounds Program.

It is amazing to reflect on the fact that Peaceful Playgrounds began at one elementary school in Southern California 15 years ago and today has spread to over 8000 schools across the nation and through out the world.

I'm proud to say that Peaceful Playgrounds is still in existence today at Curran Elementary.

Here's a link to an article on the 20th Anniversary Celebration at Curran Elementary.

First Lady Promotes Healthier School Challenge

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:18:00 +0000

Image from Washington Post Oct. 21, 2009

The White House rolled out "The Healthy Kids Fair" this week in Washingtion DC with First Lady Michelle Obama jump roping her way to good health.

The First Lady has lead the way in promoting healthy eating and exercise for children. Remember the White House Garden? The event this week is part of a new initiative called, "The Healthier U.S. School Challenge".

And the goal of this challenge is to "find schools who are going to commit to making fresh healthy food available -- we want them to pledge that, that's part of the challenge -- but in addition to making healthy foods available, getting rid of the junk food in the school, making that pledge, get rid of it, but also to be sure that they're setting aside time for physical activity during the day in the curriculum and teaching kids about healthy food choices during the day".

If your school is not part of the Healthier U.S. School Challenge sign up today at :
http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/healthierus/index.html

New Stop Bullying Now Resources

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:11:00 +0000

Stop Bullying Now has a new website with additional resources.

You may be interested in their chart which gives you current laws and legislation in regards to bullying.

You may also be interested in their new page on major research and studies on bullying.

Other articles on bullying:

Bullying Prevention: Life's lessons in good and evil.

Why Bullying Programs Succeed or Fail.

Dr. Oz weighs in on Recess

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:05:00 +0000

Dr. Oz swings through Detroit with opinions on fitness, health policy and Oprah.

A version of this story appears on page 14A of the Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, print edition of the Detroit Free Press.

Dr. Oz the new TV personality with his own show launched from Oprah appearances weighed in on the topic of Obesity in children: "The most important thing we can do is make it easier for kids to exercise," says Oz. He's in favor of fitness-promoting games at recess. "Right now, recess is 40 minutes, but 20 minutes of sitting around." He also advises keeping high-fat, low-nutrition food out of your kitchen. "Make the difficult decisions at the supermarket. Don't make them at home. Once the food is in the home, you've got to let the kids have it, because otherwise, you create a fictitious battle between you and them."

Edible Playgrounds Initiative

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:15:00 +0000

Edible Gardens are all about teaching kids to grow and cook. On their website you can download a number of free programs, competitions and hot tips for developing your own edible playground. The initiative originated in the UK and is similar to the School Garden Movement here in the U.S.

Here is a couple of samples of some free information from the website:

Part of the sow it grow it set of activities, students grow grass seeds in a tube and measure and trim "green hair" as it grows.

Grow seeds in a jam jar creates a green house like effect to visually watch seeds sprout.

Other activities link.

Take it Outside! Week

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:51:00 +0000

October 19-23rd

HSBS will hold its inaugural Take It Outside! week on October 19 through 23 encouraging Head Start programs across the nation to get outside, connect with the natural world, and increase physical activity. HSBS will provide programs with ideas to celebrate Take It Outside! week including activity ideas, tips for facilitating play, and suggestions for enhancing the environment. Information is available in both English and Spanish. Click here for more.......

An example of a downloadable list of outside activity suggestions includes: 15 Simple Ways to Get Moving

October Grants Newsletter Released

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:31:00 +0000

Did you miss the October Grants Newsletter that went out yesterday? If you missed it sign up here.

Link to October Grants Newsletter.

Healthy foods maybe not so healthy?

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:45:00 +0000

This posting is from a new blog I've discovered called Fooducate Blog. It has interesting information for those interested in nutrition.

The consumer watchdog group CSPI published [PDF] a provocative list of 10 healthy foods that have been involved in large scale contamination in the past few years:

1. LEAFY GREENS: 363 outbreaks involving 13,568 reported cases of illness
2. EGGS: 352 outbreaks , 11,163 illness
3. TUNA: 268 outbreaks , 2341 illness
4. OYSTERS: 132 outbreaks , 3409 illness
5. POTATOES: 108 outbreaks , 3659 illness
6. CHEESE: 83 outbreaks , 2761 illness
7. ICE CREAM: 74 outbreaks , 2594 illness
8. TOMATOES: 31 outbreaks , 3292 illness
9. SPROUTS: 31 outbreaks , 2022 illness
10. BERRIES: 25 outbreaks , 3397 illness

The group is not trying to scare us away from these foods, it is simply pointing out a fact that the FDA must do a better job of enforcing safety regulations on growers, shippers, and manufacturers.

Article continued at Fooducate Blog.

Related Posts:
Schools Teaching Organic Gardening

Healthy Food, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

Nutrition in Schools - Childhood Obesity

General Mills Foundation: Champions for Healthy Kids

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:04:00 +0000

The General Mills Foundation Champions for Healthy Kids grant program encourages communities in the United States to improve the eating and physical activity patterns of young people, ages 2-20. Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations and agencies working with communities that demonstrate the greatest need and likelihood of sustainable impact on young people's nutrition and activity levels through innovative programs.

Maximum award: $10,000.

Deadline: January 15, 2010.

http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/champions.aspx

How to get people to be physically active? Make it fun.

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:38:00 +0000

How do you get people to be more physically active? Make it fun! View short video.

Related posts:
Physical Education Case Study.

Low-Cost High-Activity Playgrounds

City Council Bans Private School Kids from Park

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:36:00 +0000

The "all or nothing" methods of problem solving never fails to amaze me. Here's the latest example. A private school in Maryland used the adjacent park for recess. It seems that preschool parents complained that the older school kids were taking over the park, playing inappropriately, and leaving trash.

The result was to ban the school kids from entering the park between 9-4.

Why not ask the school to increase supervision? Students who are supervised are less likely to leave trash or stand on infant swings as alleged.

Better yet, how long can recess last anyway? Does it make sense to ban the school from using the park when they most likely use it for only 30 minutes maximum per day. Isn't that what parks are for? Isn't more better in terms of park usage? How about suggesting to the preschool moms to avoid the park for 30 minutes a day during the lunch recess period?

Banning kids from the park all day everyday seems like an over reaction. What do you think?

Here's the article on the topic.

Teachers. Are You Paying Attention?

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:36:00 +0000

Teachers. Are you paying attention video?

10 unusual playgrounds from around the world

melinda@peacefulplaygrounds.com (Melinda Bossenmeyer) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:56:00 +0000

Continuing with the playground theme from yesterday's blog....... Here's 10 unusual and unique playgrounds.

Thanks to the mental floss blog.