Promote Positive Playground Behavior
Promote Positive Playground Behavior
Develop Positive Behavior Supports It is important to consider positive behavior supports and how the supervisors can be proactive to ensure that the rules are followed rather than reactive when they are broken. Keep in mind that supervisors are not the “Playground Police.” It is the supervisor’s job to provide a safer environment for active free play, encourage children, and help children follow and understand the playground rules to promote safety and fun for everyone. In order to be proactive, be consistent with rules, procedures, and routines. Any disciplinary procedure taken should be previously approved by school or agency administration and should be fair and consistent.
Provide Choices and Establish Consequences Providing children with choice gives them an element of control and ownership in the decision-making process. Poor choices may result in natural consequences (such as not getting to participate in an activity) or an established disciplinary action. Keep consequences simple ; make them relevant and timely . If at all possible, the consequences should occur on the same day or immediately after the behavior occurred. Deal with issues on the spot by removing equipment and materials or children from the undesired or dangerous situation.
Examples of Providing Choices: • If swings are full and a child is impatient, you might say “You can take the next turn on the swing or you can go use the slide now.” • “You can listen and follow directions or you can sit and watch your friends play.”
Positive behavior supports can help children relate exercise with positive feelings and memories.
Any disciplinary procedures must be consistent with existing school or agency policy. Procedures should be finalized and approved by the administration. Copies of policy and procedures for positive behavior supports and other disciplinary procedures should be included as part of the playground supervision program and reviewed and revised as necessary. When developing consequences, consider questions like these: • Is the consequence the same for running on the play equipment as for shoving a classmate to the ground? • How will you manage verbal versus physical bullying? • Does the level of consequence increase with the number of incidents? • How many reminders will be given before there is a consequence? • What if other factors like attention seeking or defending oneself influenced the behavior?
Be careful with setting up too many specifics. There are always unique circumstances to every situation. The following examples are forms of discipline that are not recommended: • Requiring physical exercise such as doing pushups or running laps. Children should relate exercise with positive feelings and memories, not negative ones. • Taking away recess time in school settings. Children need to exert energy in order to focus and do their best in the classroom. Studies show that children that engage in daily high-energy activity increase test scores and on task behavior (Davis, C., et al., Effects of aerobic exercise on overweight children’s cognitive functioning: a randomized controlled trial, Research Quarterly for Exercise Sport, 2007) . • Intentionally embarrassing or humiliating children, which can harm them socially and emotionally.
By promoting positive playground behavior, you can help children play more safely and have more fun!
Passive methods of enforcement • Making eye contact • Physically moving closer in proximity to a child Some behavior may require other disciplinary actions that have been approved by your school or agency • Time outs, verbal warnings, or taking privileges away Supervisors should remain consistent in how they react to less preferred behaviors from children. Threats and warnings without the intention of taking action are confusing to children. All playground supervisors must be consistent regarding what is considered acceptable and unacceptable behavior, the number and type of reminders given, and consequences that will follow.
Some methods for promoting positive playground behavior:
Positive behavior supports • Choices and self-monitoring opportunities • Positive reinforcement and praise Consider developing a public method of rewarding children for positive behavior, such as a “Playground Friend of the Week” award. • Natural consequences • Visual supports • Reminders of rules Try to state reminders in a positive way to reinforce the desired behavior. For example, you might say, “Keep hands to yourself” instead of “No pushing” or “Use the equipment in a safer way” instead of “No jumping off the wall.”
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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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