THE PEACEFUL

PLAYGROUND

APPROACH

REDUCE BULLYING By Jayne Arsenault

What is Bullying?

Bullying is a widespread and serious problem that can happen anywhere.  It is not a phase children have to go through, it is not "just messing around", and it is not something to grow out of.  Bullying can cause serious and lasting harm.

Bullying Can Be Displayed in Many Ways

Bullying Does Happen Often

Repetition: Incidents of bullying can happen to the same person over and over by the same person or group.

Did you know?56% of students have personally witnessed some type of bullying at school especially on the playground.

The Data Below Shows the Greater Number of Behavior Referrals Occurred at DES Recess Times. Morning recess- 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 thru 12:45.

Many Students Have Witnessed Bullying

Children with little to do during their recess may seek adventure through various forms

of illicit play-For example, fighting, teasing and

annoying other children. (Evans 1989)

To promote positive playground behaviors, it is helpful to:

Encourage a range of activities, games, and equipment to engage the interest of all children, from those who like energetic games to those who prefer more quiet activities. Increasingly, schools are adopting programs to promote students’ social skills and prevent problematic behaviors like fighting.

Peaceful Playgrounds Aim To Eliminate Bullying!

“This program was created to help increase motor skills, dramatically reduce injuries, and maximize playground efficiency.

More students are active bouncing balls, playing hopscotch, and moving productively making recess more peaceful with learning games.

This gives kids more activities to play at recess, keeps them more engaged and out of conflicts.

Schools that use Peaceful Playground activities have seen their playground issues decrease tremendously.

Here is a school transforming their playground with many

choices of activities and games.

THIS IS WHAT OUR NEW PEACEFUL PLAYGROUND COULD LOOK LIKE

WHEN IT IS COMPLETED.

RESEARCH SHOWS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS LINKED TO INCREASED LEARNING IN

THE CLASSROOM AND LESS BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT http://www.peacefulplaygrounds.com/index.htm

Redesigning our playground at Dirigo Elementary School by using the Peaceful Playground approach, would help reduce bullying, making recess more focused and purposeful for the children and the faculty.

"Such peace is no accident... That seemingly simple change in playground dynamics has

made a difference!" - San Diego Union Tribune.

The Peaceful Playground approach works nicely with the PBIS Program we

currently have.

The concept is delightfully simple and gives kids some organized games to play.

It provides a number of activities resulting in fewer conflicts and reduced playground injury, while motivating students to be physically active

References

http://www.peacefulplaygrounds.com/index.htm

http://stopbullying.gov/educators/index.html

http://www.cfchildren.org/support/teacherstips/skillsplayground/