Does anybody out there know of any programs for training kids to be playground peacekeepers or conflict managers?
Some schools in Canada are implementing these programs, and I'm trying to find what programs are out there. If you know of a program, please post it in this thread. Thanks!
Alynsen,
There is a related program at Rosa Parks Elementary in Berkeley, CA.
The program administrator is Lamont Snaer and he can be reached at lamont_snaer * a t * berkeley.k12.ca.us or 510.644.8537.
Cheers!
Matt
Thanks, Matt! I appreciate the info!
Anyone else know of any programs like this?
Annie
If you're implementing a Playground Peacekeepers program, you may want to consider building a Peace Pole as a side project along with it! That way, in addition to engaging in the Peacekeepers curriculum, the kids may enjoy painting a Peace Pole that will stand as a physical representation & reminder of the principles they've learned and beautify the playspace at the same time. It's a really easy, fun project where the kids paint "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in 8 different languages on different sides in different colors, and then an adult concretes it in the ground, as a focal point of a garden or outdoor classroom, or just on its own. There are plans in the side project section of kaboom.org.
Another fun idea would be for the kids to brainstorm principles of peacekeeping that they've learned "be nice" & "assume the best" & "share" & "smile", for example, and then paint or stencil those on a surface as a mural, along with handprints (which are fun for the kids because they get to dip their hands in paint, and also symbolize the ownership aspect, the fact that kids made it and chose to believe in the things written there).
This group called Sports4Kids creates peaceful playgrounds by teaching kids the rules of various playground games. I just mentioned them in another Forum thread.
Has anyone heard of other groups successfully using this method to decrease the amount of violence on their playgrounds? Is learning the rules the games a key to decreasing playground violence?