The Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) reports that about 400 children are currently living in 13 temporary housing sites in the city of Soma, Fukushima Prefecture. These children, who have suffered through the trauma of losing friends, relatives, and their homes, have had no place to play outside at their new housing units, which has meant that they’ve had difficulty getting the kind of play and exercise that they need for their physical and mental health. In mid-March, AAR installed a small playground at one site, and they have since installed two more. Word traveled quickly and the playgrounds were quickly filled with the sounds of children laughing and playing. The playgrounds also provide a place for parents, grandparents, or other caregivers to gather and get to know one another since the people in the temporary housing units come from all over the region.