Promote Positive Playground Behavior
Promote Positive Playground Behavior
Identify Behavior-Related Hazards In addition to facility-related hazards, supervisors should be aware of children’s behavior that may be potentially dangerous to themselves or others so that they can respond proactively. Due to the variation of sites and equipment, this list of behavior-related hazards should not be considered to be complete.
Aggressive behaviors
Bullying and conflict resolution
• Children’s emotions are sometimes acted out in non-preferred ways. Watch for aggressive behavior towards other children as well as inanimate objects like playground equipment. • Intervening to help the child work though anger or frustration may keep the situation from escalating and prevent the transfer of verbal or physical aggression to other children. The supervisor’s role is to channel non-preferred behavior into acceptable and meaningful forms of expression.
• All children should be visible to the playground supervisors at all times, as well as when walking to and from the playground area. • Provide plenty of choices, activities, and developmentally appropriate playground equipment and activities so that children do not wait to play and there is something for everyone to enjoy. • Since peer pressure is the most influential factor in putting a stop to bullying, schools should provide opportunities to raise awareness through discussion, curriculum, media, and role playing. Bullying often takes place in the presence of other student bystanders, so increasing their empathy and giving them the confidence to intervene can work effectively. Develop a school policy on bullying that defines what is considered a bullying incident, how to proactively prevent bullying from occurring, and the procedure for intervening and taking disciplinary action if necessary. Students should also know the procedure and steps to take if they witness bullying and should learn about conflict resolution skills.
Use of the equipmen t
• Children should use the equipment within its intended parameters while still participating in imaginative and free play. Discourage pushing, shoving, overcrowding on or around the equipment. Discourage running and playing tag on the equipment, as these activities can distract children from spatial judgment which could lead to missteps, slips, or falls.
While rough and tumble play is a valid play behavior, it is important to watch the body language of the players. According to play scholar, Dr. Stuart Brown, “If you are to observe kids, like in a preschool, that are involved with all the exuberance that school- aged kids have, and you watch them at play, it may appear chaotic, anarchic, look violent on the — to the surface. They’re diving. They’re wrestling. They’re squealing. They’re screaming. But if you look at them, they’re smiling at each other. It’s not a contest of who’s going to win.”
• Peer-pressure can often increase dangerous risk- taking behavior. Support and give assistance to children when they are exploring with appropriate risk-taking behaviors, keeping the risk-taking activity within the boundaries of their developmental capabilities.
On the playground, pay close attention to the following behaviors:
Risk-taking behaviors
• While often positive, risk-taking behaviors that may endanger a child may occur both on and off of the equipment. Supervisors should determine the acceptable use of the playground equipment.
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Preserving the Play Environment • Promoting the Value of Play • Protecting Children
Preserving the Play Environment • Promoting the Value of Play • Protecting Children
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