Testimonials - Peace Rug

"I'm happy with this. It's a very, very good idea ... go ahead with my blessings."

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"At Kathy Ireland Worldwide, our mission is ... finding solutions for families, especially busy moms. So, with our partners at Shaw Rugs, we've found a wonderful, innovative solution that can help us resolve conflict in a loving, nurturing environment. It's called The Peace Rug®"

Kathy Ireland, CEO and Chief Designer, Kathy Ireland Worldwide.

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"We have found The Peace Rug to be tremendously helpful. We always have it out during our Partial Hospital Program day. Our kids are able to respond to the visual and concrete steps to resolve conflicts. Inviting a peer to The Peace Rug is a non-threatening way to assist youth in practicing relational and problem solving skills as well as having the opportunity to use scripts which eventually become incorporated and internalized as positive experiences result. Also the method of the invitation and specific wording illustrates that the child can extend an invitation to make peace without having to feel offended if the other child chooses not to participate ... the child offering can then proceed to other options. The steps of the process allows for developmentally appropriate and doable communications and accomplishment of skills. The child ends up feeling successful and affirmed regardless of the other child’s actions. This helps them understand that they are not responsible for the choices of others and can feel good about their own choices. The experiential learning and inherent metaphors in the exercises are impressive. We, as you know, have ordered the rugs for several of our satellite programs located in 4 different counties. The programs include Day Hospital, After-school, and Intensive Outpatient Programs. Additional programs we may include are Therapeutic Summer Camps — offered in 3 counties, inpatient, and residential programs within our organization. We are a non-profit, Christian based organization serving children, adolescents and adults. We provide a full continuum of services including specialties such as programs for developmental disorders and autism. In fact the application of The Peace Rug will be particularly helpful for youth with autism spectrum disorders. We haven't applied the principles yet with older adolescents."

Anne Lavin LCSW, Director of Lebanon Day Hospital and After-school Programs, Associate Director of Child and Adolescent Services, Philhaven Behavioral Health

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"If all children in the world had been taught to use the Peace Rug, no lives would have been lost today due to violence. At Roan School students are taught to use the Peace Rug in their classroom to work out a solution to any conflicts. By teaching students how to use words to settle a hurt feeling, a dispute, or a misunderstanding, we teach them self-responsibility and interpersonal skills they will carry with them into adulthood. We start early helping them develop an attitude of concern for each other. Some students are reporting that they are asking parents to establish a Peace Rug in their homes. Referrals to the office for misbehavior have decreased dramatically. If only we could teach the world to use the Peace Rug."

Frankie Beard, Ed.D., Ed.S. Principal of Roan School, Dalton, GA (retired 2003)

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"This is a world of cell phones, beepers, computers, and video games — to have a place to disconnect from the electronics in order to connect with yourself or others is rare and difficult to find. The Peace Rug® provides such a place."

Diann M. Causey, M.S., Principal of Canterbury School, Montgomery, Alabama, the first Quality High School in the United States

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"The Peace Rug is part of our school wide character education program to teach values and life skills. It provides the opportunity for teachers to model and students to practice the important character education values of respect, trust, responsibility, and cooperation. Our students are excited about having a place and a narrative to help them solve their own problems."

Connie Holliman, Ed.D., LPC, NCC, RTC, Former Counselor at Westwood School, Dalton, Georgia

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"What a unique and fun way to teach conflict resolution! The Peace Rug has been a great help in reducing conflict in our elementary school population. School social workers, counselors, and teachers will find it an effective, yet easy to use method."

Cynder Sims-Verheyen, M.S.W., School Social Worker

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"Good Morning Carol, I wanted to respond to your E-Mail about the Peace Rug. My daughter is a first year school teacher, so I am always looking for teaching materials and fun ideas to help her in the class room. When we purchased the area rug display for Simas Floors, I read about the Peace Rug and knew my daughter's students could greatly benefit from its healing powers. The first week she used the rug, one of her students in trouble said he felt his Grandpa that had passed away and the rug made him do better. One girl said the clouds gave her a big hug when she was feeling bad. Now that school is about to end, Tracy said she will include the Peace Rug in her beginning rules on behavior next year. Several teachers at her school are interested in using the rug also. Our students need a place for quiet safe time out, thank you for the Peace Rug."

Jan Madison, Sacramento, CA

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"Yes, I did receive the book in excellent condition. I have already used it a number of times with individual students in my counseling office and plan to continue using it with classrooms as well. I highly recommend the book for counselors. Thanks!"

Anne, Elementary School Counselor in Georgia

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"I am a fourth grade teacher and used the Peace Rug in my classroom last year. It was wonderful. The children learned positive ways to express their frustrations with each other. We were able to use the principles in The Peace Rug everywhere — at lunch, we had a"Peace Table" where they could resolve conflicts. I saw children learn to get along and love each other through the simple but profound way of teaching children to really listen to each other. My husband would even sometimes say, "I think we need to go to the Peace Rug" — and we did. It has helped me in so many areas to express my feelings — and help my children express their feelings in a way that does not hurt others."

Catherine, Richmond, VA