New Recess Games Solve Conflicts
December 2009
By Travis Perry
The Graphic – Osawatomie, KS
When most parents think back to memories of elementary school recess games and the politics of the playground, recess time probably is not remembered as a democratic experience.
Not everyone was picked to play on a team for recess games, rules for any given game varied depending on who you asked, and disputes often were solved by physical intimidation.
Nowadays, teachers and school administrators are working to level the playing field, and Trojan Elementary School officials are doing just that with the Peaceful Playground program.
Principal Jeff White said the program was made possible by a government grant, which was applied for by Osawatomie Middle School physical education teacher Nancy Gagnebin.
In a nutshell, the program brings some stability to the otherwise volatile playground environment by instituting more structure through elementary school recess games.
Guidelines were provided to help Trojan officials create clear boundaries for an array of different games, formal rules were created, and teachers and administrators make sure every student knows how to play each game.
If you ask White, he’ll say the program has been nothing short of a resounding success.
“I’m surprised, but glad, too, that the numbers have come in like that,” he said. “The kids just seem to be getting along better outside.”
While Peaceful Playground provides a structured experience for recess, kids aren’t pigeonholed into limited activities; they still have the option of doing whatever they like, White said, but he and others have noticed that more are opting for the structured games.
The program also has reduced incidents of tattling and playground disagreements by giving kids the necessary skills to deal with problems themselves.
If two students don’t agree on how a particular rule is enforced, they are told to exercise the option to walk away from the problem, tell a teacher to keep someone from doing something that would get them in trouble or, the seemingly most popular method, settle a disagreement with a round of rock, paper, scissors.
Osawatomie Graphic – Program Levels Playground Playing Field
