12 WAYS TO SPRUCE UP YOUR SCHOOL’S PLAYGROUND (PART 1)

Recess is an essential part of keeping kids healthy and active. For many children, it’s the only time of their day that’s entirely unstructured. How they choose to spend that time helps them mentally decompress and refocus once they reenter the classroom. A misbehaving kid that bounces with energy in the class doesn’t need his recess taken away as a punishment — he needs it more than anyone else.

Students use recess to make their own rules, exercise their creativity and determine their schedule. They get the responsibility of shaping their own time. Children consider to play serious business, so they do not take this responsibility lightly. They develop communication and social skills, both vital parts of elementary education.

Your students’ playground has a significant role in their development. But what do you do when the current playground fails to meet the needs of every student?

In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of 12 ways to make your school’s playground more fun — even if you’re on a budget.

1. Add Traditional Game Markings

You can inexpensively encourage structured playtime on flat surfaces by permanently painting outlines for different games. Whether it’s something traditional like hopscotch or something more nuanced like snakes and ladders, here are some markings you could use to freshen up the school playground:

Tic-Tac-Toe: Kids can easily play this game by filling the boxes with chalk or giant playing pieces.

Checkers: You could paint this board on the ground for giant checkers or atop a picnic table so kids can sit and play. Pair these with appropriately sized pieces.

Four Square: This game only requires a large painted square divided into four quadrants, and large ball kids can bounce. You can simplify the game for younger kids, or older students could use the official tournament rules.

Long Jump: Paint the foot outline for kids to start on and then draw out two and a half meters with measuring ticks, so students can see how far they jumped.

Snakes and Ladders: You can play the classic shoots and ladders game with just a painted pattern and giant die. The kids play as their pieces, which adds another element of fun. The game accommodates multiple players and skill levels.

Paths and Roads: Just drawing arbitrary roads and pathways for students to follow on their own allows them to use their imagination and create their games. For a fun custom option, name the paths after the roads they travel to get to school.

After you paint the lines, make sure the teacher shows the kids how to use each of the spaces. Give the students ideas on how to get creative with the new games available to them.

These lines invite more game-play into the schoolyard without a substantial investment. Watching whether they get used or not in the weeks after painting will give you better insight into what kids look for in their play areas.

2. Zoning Your Current Spaces

Dividing and designating your play areas gives you better control over the safety of the schoolyard. If you section off different areas for different activities, you encourage using currently unused spaces and make sure a kid using the swings won’t get hit by a stray football. Taking stock of the different parts of the area and understanding which spaces are popular can give you a better idea of current reimagining spaces for various activities.

Here are some ideas for different zones:

• Field sports
• Free play
• Socialization space
• Jungle gym
• Seating area
• Courts
• Swings and slides
• Performance zones
• Mindfulness spaces
• Natural elements

Sometimes students will create their unofficial zones, so make sure you understand the playground’s unspoken areas as determined by the kids before you rework the space.

3. Consider the Needs of Guardians, Monitors and Teachers

When monitoring the children, where do the teachers, monitors and parents usually sit? If there is no designated space for the adults to occupy, they may not have the proper vantage point to use the equipment safely. Remember that students will rarely use space unsupervised, especially not during school hours. Ensure the person in charge of the students’ safety has a space to sit and see the whole park.

Consider adding a covering to protect the sitting individuals from the elements. A cover can give shade in the spring, protect from the rain, and block out some wind in the colder months.

Proper seating also gives children a space to rest if they’ve overexerted themselves while playing. A reliable source of shade can be particularly advantageous if a student starts overheating.

4. Prioritize and Make Improvements Gradually

How do you update your school playground on a budget? Some companies offer the option to pay in phases with a financing or leasing program. By working in stages, you can reevaluate the project’s needs and direction as your budget becomes clearer. You can determine the best place to allocate funds as you see which parts the kids get most excited about.

Taking this approach is easier on your budget and allows the children to continue using the playground if you only improve one area at a time.

If the kids watch the playground grow gradually, they get the opportunity to become emotionally invested in the project. If the playground shuts down for repairs, they’ll be disappointed and upset and might resent the project if they’re about to graduate from that school. When the kids get to use the rest of the playground and watch the daily progress, their enthusiasm may inspire more community members to donate, which could increase the project’s scale. Before you know it, you’ll be able to make your school playground like new.

Ready to Get Started?

Start Improving Your Playground Today

Do you want to start imagining a better place for your students to grow, learn, and play? Ready to get started improving your playground today? Have questions on what the building process would look like? Are you looking for more inspiration?

Our representatives are excited to talk with you about ways the New Play can make your student’s experience more exciting, inclusive, and cognitively stimulating. Contact New Play representative today!

(Part 2 – Please click here)

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