The Peaceable Playground Program was developed by Project Adventure in 1999 in an effort to address students' needs and adults' concerns about aggressive play at recess. This model incorporates parents, students and educators as facilitators and provides an opportunity for children to participate in activities during lunch recess.

Parents participate in a three-day training that focuses on group management, facilitation, and basic conflict resolution skills. The parents, working in pairs, then facilitate intentionally-designed activities that engage children in a fun and supportive learning environment.

Parental involvement is important for two reasons. Parents role model pro-social behaviors, and the model aligns with the importance of a community-wide support network for violence prevention.

The second year of the program, students are incorporated as facilitators. Students in the upper grade (fourth) facilitate activities with students in first grade. The parents move into more of a support role.

Why is the Peaceable Playground model successful?

Project Adventure's activities are designed to engage children — both their minds and their spirits. Non-competitive, fun and engaging group activities foster the development of effective social relationships using group dynamics as a tool for understanding and relating to others from different cultures, backgrounds and socio-economic differences.

Connecting with social-emotional learning theory, this model teaches children skills to strengthen their ability to think critically, carefully and creatively. They increase their self-confidence as problem solvers and take responsibility for the well being of themselves and their peers.

Students transfer skills learned in the Peaceable Playground model to the classroom. Success in forming relationships, communicating effectively, being sensitive to each other and getting along with others helps increase academic achievement and decrease behavioral issues.

How to Implement a Peaceable Playground Program

	Needs Assessment Helps you to utilize your physical, fiscal, and human resources most effectively.
	Training (supporting workshops) • Open enrollment workshops • Customized training
	Tools • Project Adventure products • Challenge course
	Support On-going support includes: Refresher trainings, both open enrollment and custom Observation, consultation and additional training for student facilitators Parent/student dialog nights. We can help to design this powerful experience.

Adventures in Peacemaking

Learn how to create a peaceable program.
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Adventure Based Counseling

Learn the core concepts of Adventure philosophy and theory with an emphasis on group process and debriefing.
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Portable Adventure

A great introductory workshop for the Physical Education Curriculum training, perfect for limited spaces.
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Adventure Approach to Teaching Health and Wellness

Learn how to implement the Health and Wellness Curriculum.
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Adventure Curriculum for Physical Education

Learn how to implement Project Adventure's Physical Education Curricula.
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Advanced Group Counseling Skills

Review the basics of Adventure Based Counseling and learn advanced facilitation models with an opportunity to lead a portion of the workshop and receive feedback from the instructor and other participants
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