This resource package was designed to provide activities that will improve student knowledge of and skill in wintertime and out-of-doors recreational pursuits. Winter games and sports appropriate for children from kindergarten through grade 10 are described. Teaching methods and learning objectives are discussed and sample lesson plans are…

Describes activities involving the use of playground equipment (such as swings and seesaws) as a means of teaching elementary school children some basic principles of physics. (JR)

An attempt is made to demonstrate that major theories of children's outdoor play reveal the social class biases of their originators. Most modern play theory is enclosed in the individualism of Western philosophy; its emphasis on the voluntary, the solitary, and the creative are seen as indications of its cultural relevance to people of higher…

Discusses four factors central to the American playground movement: backlash reaction to cognitive emphasis in early childhood education, influence of European play environments, increasing awareness of deficiencies in traditional American playgrounds, and accumulation of experience with new types of playgrounds. Cites research related to each of…

Aimed at determining whether preference scaling techniques could be used as a means of aiding engineering design, paried comparison and rank-order methods indicated that children do have stable and reliable preferences for play equipment and these preferences are correlated with actual usage. (Author/KM)

Guidelines are offered to help make recess a more enjoyable and beneficial experience for all children. Physical educators may have to supervise inservice programs for other school personnel in this area. (JMF)

Describes use of play crates, containers holding items that connect activities to a particular theme, in the outdoor classroom. Describes using crates to plan more creatively, enhance children's independence, and build spontaneous and individual interests. Provides direction in assembling and implementing play crates, and extending outdoor…

This review of school playtime literature finds that school play has gained serious recognition only in the last decade; that recognition generally falls into two camps, the romantic view (emphasizing what children learn and enjoy at playtime) and the problematic view (emphasizing issues such as bullying, disruptive behavior, and gender…

As schools try to do more with less, many PTAs are working with school officials to help improve the school environment. Playground safety is one area where PTAs can make a difference. For example, PTAs can work with schools to schedule volunteers to help with recess supervision. They can also teach children the rules of the playground and how to…

Discusses the importance of providing enough activity choices for young children during outdoor play. Defines simple, complex, and super play units. Describes the application of an equation for determining the number of available play spaces in a playground. (RJC)

Notes that, although staff should always watch for playground hazards, routine checks for playground hazards should be conducted monthly. Presents a 51-item safety checklist developed by the American National Red Cross that allows child care workers to assess the safety of elements of the play environment such as playground design and arrangement,…

Addresses the issue of providing an area for smokers in a child care facility. Because of the increased risks of respiratory diseases associated with exposure to tobacco smoke, a smoking area is not recommended. A clarification is also included concerning a recipe for sanitized play sand. (PAM)

Discusses how outdoor play can be as effective as indoor play in facilitating young children's development. Offers advice on selection of toys and materials; organization of play spaces; addition of movable toys and equipment; ways to stimulate imaginative outdoor play; and playground safety. (TJQ)

A well-developed playground in a park or school setting can greatly enhance childen's overall development, making playgrounds more than just fun. Playgrounds offer children opportunities to develop physically, mentally, and socially, improving academic readiness as well as overall health. The paper discusses the importance of movement, how…