How To Improve Playground Safety at School

While outside for recess, children face environmental hazards, injuries, and interactions with strangers that can approach the playground and threaten the safety of school children. Staff members, whether they’re teachers or lunch supervisors, must become watchful guardians when observing dozens of children buzzing around. Consider how to improve playground safety to preserve the security of everyone outside and keep recess fun for all your students.

Keep Supervisors Active

If a recess supervisor slacks off, it opens up the possibility of student mischief or a slow response to an emergency. Stress the importance of being active as a supervisor during training. Keep multiple supervisors out at a time to allow one to keep an eye on the students while another responds to a situation or interacts with the kids. Encourage your recess supervisors to stay standing while they watch the children. You can also provide seating that overlooks the entire playground.

Improve Your Technology

Every schoolyard supervisor should have a way to communicate with the front office and other staff members. The easiest and most effective way to keep school faculty connected during is through the use of walkie-talkies. They can take them along when bringing children out to the playground. With a radio in hand, they’ll have instant communication in case of an emergency.

You can also implement other forms of technology both inside and outside the building to keep everyone safe while the children play. Using technology to improve the safety of students and faculty may involve installing a high-tech surveillance system or a series of alarms at each exit.

Separate Play Areas

Grade schools contain children at many different stages of growth, and your school’s playground may have two or more sets of playground equipment to keep every child entertained. To keep recess safe, these play areas should remain separated to ensure that children stay in the places meant for them.

Supervisors should make sure students don’t play with equipment that’s too big for them or pick on children younger than them. Students don’t have to stay on one side of the playground—they can hang out with their older (or younger) friends under proper supervision.

Stay connected with your playground supervisors and teachers to listen to their input on how to improve playground safety. You won’t have the same insight they have when it comes to how kids act during recess; listen to what they think would be the most helpful before making decisions on new regulations or playground equipment.