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Peaceful Playgrounds Recess Program at Marana School on KOLD-News
Anchor: Speaking of local, there's something that keeps children from fighting on the playground,
reduces injuries, and a lot more. What is this miracle? KOLD News 13's Barbara Grijalva
reports from a playground that's growing more peaceful at Twin Peaks Elementary.
Barbara: You know, Mindy, children need to feel safe when they're at school having fun,
and the Peaceful Playground Program actually promises that and a whole lot more, and all
you really need to get started is some paint on the ground, some playground equipment,
and suddenly you're just learning and getting new skills. The third graders at Twin Peaks
School in Marana are in training, learning to play new games and getting valuable lesson,
including simple problem-solving ideas.
Teacher: This is a Peaceful Playground. Do we tolerate bullies?
Students: No!
Barbara: There are high expectations with the Peaceful Playgrounds Program.
Student: It's going to eliminate all the bullies, for the bullies can have more games to play
and they won't fight.
Barbara: Now, about those new games the children are learning, they really seem to be a hit.
Student: Some of the games, I've heard about, and my friends have played them, so I really
wanted to know how to play.
Barbara: Peaceful Playgrounds is for the whole school, kindergarten through sixth grade.
It includes games painted on concrete and plenty of play equipment. The children would
get a lot more choices during recess.
Principal: It also really encourages active lifestyles and fitness, gets the kids actively
playing games, and it makes the playground a fun atmosphere for them.
Barbara: And, it turns out, hopscotch, jump rope, and beanbag tosses can do so much more
than that, including a surprise bonus -- fewer children getting hurt.
Principal: You can imagine, if kids are congested, they're more likely to fall or bump one another
or get hurt, whereas with this program, the kids are spread throughout the playground.
Barbara: It seems like plenty of *** for the buck, but what do the students think?
Student: It's really, really, really fun.
Barbara: Now, Peaceful Playgrounds is in about 7,000 schools all across the country. Three
schools in Tucson are looking into it, and that includes Twin Peaks, of course. Twin
Peaks is spending about $5,000 for all this equipment and a lot more stuff just to get
started. They've used a federal grant and money from students and parents that they
have raised to pay for it. In about three months, the students are going to be surveyed
and they're going to find out if really all of this lives up to what it promises. Reporting
live from the Northwest Side, I'm Barbara Grijalva, KOLD News 13, Live Local.