Brain Breaks Resources

Purpose of Brain Breaks Well designed Brain Breaks accomplish three purposes: 1) they refresh students, 2) they refocus students for learning and 3) they re-energize students. Every teacher has experience the glazed look from students who basically need a break.  Kids check-out when sitting and listening for a long period of time.  Once kids [...]

By |2021-06-16T21:09:56-07:00March 13th, 2014|Resources, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Why School Recess Makes Kids Smarter

Recess Makes Kids Smarter By Melinda Bossenmeyer, Ed.D. We Now Know Why Recess Makes Kids Smarter   Kids love recess. But until recently, we didn't know why recess makes kids smarter. According to a second grader, Allison Rincand, her favorite activity at school, “Recess because I get to play [...]

By |2023-10-09T21:15:44-07:00December 30th, 2013|Featured Articles, Recess|1 Comment

Recess Makes Kids Smarter: Scholastic Magazine

By Caralee Adams, Instructor Magazine Each day in the classroom kids are being told: "Be quiet. Sit still. Be quiet. Sit still," says Nelly Torres, a parent of a first and a fourth grader in the Chicago Public Schools. "That's because they need their recess." Torres, 42, still lives in the same neighborhood she grew [...]

By |2021-06-16T21:09:58-07:00October 30th, 2013|Magazines, News and Media|0 Comments

School Days: Peaceful Playground has students on the move and reducing bullying.

Talbott Spring Elementary Aims to Reduce Bullying and Conflicts. Talbott Springs Elementary School gets a playground make-over with Peaceful Playgrounds to reduce bullying and playground confrontations. By Lauren Rosenberg lbrosenberg@patuxent.com Bullying reduction comes in many different forms.  Armed with cans of red, yellow, lime green and blue paint and rolls of masking [...]

By |2021-06-16T21:09:58-07:00September 16th, 2013|News and Media, Newspapers Articles|0 Comments

Everything I learned in life I learned on the playground

I watched a less popular girl, Allison, walk up to a group of four girls who were playing a game of four-square. As she approached and asked, “Can I play?” she was quickly rebuffed. “The game is closed,” Janey, the ring leader, announced. Given the school is a Peaceful Playgrounds school, I was surprised at [...]

Structured vs Unstructured Recess

Most Students Deserve An Unstructured Recess Experience Today I received a phone call from a second-grade teacher. She indicated that she had a behavior challenged child (frequent discipline issues) and was growing pretty frustrated with him. In response to Jeremy (not his real name), who was hitting kids, pushing kids, and causing chaos at recess, [...]

By |2022-07-01T09:39:45-07:00February 22nd, 2013|Featured Articles, Recess|0 Comments

School Recess: When Is It Too Cold To Go Out To Recess?

School Recess: When Is It Too Cold To Go Out To Recess? Part of the Inclement Weather Series Indoor or Outdoor Recess? When the weather outside is frightful outdoor recess on the playground may not be delightful. Just ask any playground supervisor. Outdoor recess, however, is a [...]

Play Right at Recess- It’s Like A Miracle

Play Right Marni Pyke The Northwest Herald Peaceful Playgrounds is  like a  miracle happened. A year ago, controlled bedlam reigned in the South Elementary School playground in Crystal Lake during recess. Then it was like a miracle happened. Children played a chaotic version of soccer that led to brawls and name calling. Those intimidated by [...]

Carlsbad school achieves peaceful playground

  Lisa Petrillo The San Diego Union Tribune - 05/02 Five year old Kaelyn Rincand enjoys her peaceful playground experience. Given the jungle rules of some school playgrounds, where the biggest and toughest tend to dominate, consider the scene recently at El Camino Creek Elementary. A recess came and went, with 822 [...]

By |2021-06-16T21:10:08-07:00January 8th, 2013|Newspapers Articles|0 Comments

Bellview’s New Playground Design

 September 2003 Sample school playground design by Peaceful Playgrounds. By Lynn Atkins Rogers Hometown News At Bellview Elementary, the newest tool for teachers measures 40 feet by 100 feet.  It's their new school playground design by Peaceful Playgrounds.  It's also the perfect example of teamwork between the school, the parents and the city, [...]

More Fun with Productive Play During Outdoor Recess

By Jane Long The Breeze-Courier October 2003 Students enjoy outdoor recess with lots of playground game choices. Taylorville - Four third-grade students at North Elementary School urgently request bean bags from the school playground supervisor in order to play hopscotch as outdoor recess starts on a bright sunny day. They grab the bags, run to [...]

Recess and P.E. Critical to Success

Back to School Student participates in P.E. class activities. Not only adults but also children need physical activity in order to stay happy, healthy, and focused. If you have children of your own, this won’t come as a surprise. However, one out of every four school-age children are being severely limited in the [...]

Painting Playground Games at Center Woods Elementary

August 2004 Goffstown News Painting the playground games like 4 square and hopscotch. Recess at Center Woods Elementary School will be a lot more interesting and fun this year. As part of the Peaceful Playgrounds program, volunteers have been painting  playground games such as hopscotch, pickle, around the world, four square, and [...]

By |2021-06-16T21:10:56-07:00January 8th, 2013|Newspapers Articles|0 Comments

New school recess program awaits at Olmsted School

New school year new school recess program. By Paula Vogler Easton Journal - Easton, MA August 26, 2005 A new school playground for students at the Olmsted School, and cleaned and landscaped grounds at both the Richardson and Olmsted Schools will enhance the excitement for school recess for those returning to classes in September. Olmsted [...]

By |2022-10-18T07:34:04-07:00January 8th, 2013|Newspapers Articles|0 Comments

Games gain popularity on elementary school playground

By Nicole Wagner Mount Prospect Times - Park Ridge, IL November 3, 2005 Students learn new elementary school playground games with new Peaceful Playgrounds Program. A divided white rectangle marks the most popular piece of asphalt on the Indian Grove Elementary School playground. Children say they love bounceball, foursquare, hopscotch and other games [...]