The Republican – Palmer, MA
January 2008
Student at Old Mill enjoys peaceful recess.
Old Mill Pond Elementary School now has a “peaceful playground” and peaceful recess.
Instead of pupils playing basketball and hopscotch in the same area and running into each other, there are separate “zones” for activities.
While children can move freely between the four zones, school officials say the playground concept, which launched last month, has cut down injuries and fights and is giving pupils a more peaceful recess.
Three fourth-grade girls agree.
Sara C. Poindexter, 9; Holly E. Fountain, 9; and Leah R. Stanfield, 10, said they like the new playground better.
“Less people get hurt. It’s much more fun,” said Sara, who has been run into before on the playground.
Sara and Holly said there are more games to play, and more balls and jump ropes. Sara said there is also a “quiet zone” for students who just want to draw pictures. Holly said there is even a new painting of the solar system.
California-based Peaceful Playgrounds is a national program, and more than 8,000 schools in the United States and Canada have adopted it to some degree, according to its Web site.
With a contribution of $2,000 from the Parent Teacher Organization, Old Mill Pond was able to buy equipment and stencils to get its peaceful playground going, said Principal Mary Lou Callahan. Verizon Telecom volunteers helped repaint the playground’s blacktop for the new games, and also did the solar system.
The “peaceful playground” concept includes stencils on the blacktop, so children can take part in games, such as hopscotch and four-square.
Zone one features the walking track, a map of the United States painted on the ground with states as different colors so children can play “color tag,” and “squares” painted on the blacktop for different games.
Zone two features a large painted ring on the blacktop. Here, children play “duck, duck, goose” and dodge ball, or toss bean bags. Zone three is for jumping rope and drawing on the sidewalk with chalk. Zone four is the field, for races and soccer and football games.
District physical therapist Susan J. Farrell and fourth-grade teacher Amy Herring talked about the “peaceful playground” concept and how it has been a success.
“The whole point is to play safely, with less conflict,” Farrell said.
Farrell said not all children could participate in playground games with the prior arrangement. Now, there are more activities for children who are not as sports-oriented. There is also more space for the children, she said.
“Kids were a little reluctant at first, but now they think it’s great,” Herring said.
With up to 160 children on the playground at one time, it’s also easier for the four playground aides to watch them, said Callahan. The blacktop area is relatively small and is better organized with the “zones,” school officials said.
By Lori Stabile
The Republican
