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KHAS -- News 5 -- Peaceful Playgrounds Program Teaching Kids to Play Nice
A new playground in Doniphan is teaching kids how to play well with others. News 5 Ginger
ten Binzel joins us live in the studio with more.
Ginger: It's called a Peaceful Playground. It's a playground where children can enjoy
playing together in groups and learn problem solving skills at the same time. The playground
has age-appropriate games, consistent expectations and rules, and much more. It's a playground
that kids at Doniphan-Trumbull schools have been waiting for, for some time.
Student: It's really great. I never expected this to happen.
Ginger: So far, the Peaceful Playground has cost nearly $45,000. The next move is for
volunteers to stencil the playground. They will stencil numbers, the United States map,
letters, and more.
Volunteer: I think this will really benefit the kids and just really help them be better
people.
Ginger: The mayor says that the playground is still in the works, but has a lot to offer.
Mary: They'll be able to problem-solve on their own. They will have the same expectations.
All students will have the same set of rules. The teachers are taught out the rules at the
same times.
Ginger: Part of the problem-solving process is a student dispute form. If a student gets
into a fight on the playground, they have to fill out the form.
Student: I never used the form, but people who are fighting, they discuss it and they
say, "We were fighting about this and that", and they talk about it and decide what they're
not really supposed to be fighting about, 'cause it's not really that big of a deal.
They'll find how to compromise, and then they'll sign the paper saying they apologized, they
don't need to fight.
Ginger: Mary Yilk says that many problems from the playground transfer to the classroom,
so using this process helps in the classroom as well, but for the students, playground
experience is something special.
Student: The most exciting thing I've had to say is that we're pretty much just having
fun and nobody's fighting and we're having the time of our lives, pretty much.
Ginger: Mary also says they hope they can help other schools learn more about the Peaceful
Playgrounds concept, and actually, it's all been made possible thanks to a grant. If you're
interested in the Peaceful Playgrounds, you can go to our website at khas tv.com for more
information.