Sample List of Rules and Expectations for Playground Structures

This sample list is intended to serve as a guide for stakeholders to create a list that aligns with the policies and procedures in their respective school division/school.

 

General Rules and Expectations

Students must:

  • Use playground structure only when a teacher is present.
  • Listen and follow instructions from the teacher.
  • Wear appropriate shoes/boots that are secured/tied.
  • Tie back long hair.
  • Travel safely when near the playground structure, that is, they must walk, not run when on the structure.
  • Take turns.
  • Keep their hands to themselves at all times.
  • Keep their feet on the structure. Climbing or sitting on the railings is not permitted.

Students must not:

  • Wear clothing with loose drawstrings, bicycle helmets or backpacks.
  • Jump from unsafe heights (that is, any height higher than their chest).
  • Eat while on the playground structure.
  • Play tag games near or on the structure.
Specific Activities Rules and Expectations

Climbing Structure - Steps

  • Walk (not run) and hold the hand rails.

Climbing Structure - Platform

  • Walk at all times.
  • No jumping from the platform to the ground. Use the steps, slides or ladders.
  • Keep your feet on platform at all times. Do not attempt to climb onto the railings.

Climbing Structure - Pole

  • Two hands on the pole at all times. Feet first down the pole. Once at the bottom, move away.

Slides

  • Wait your turn. Keep your hands to yourself. No pushing or shoving at the top of the slide.
  • No sliding headfirst, lying down or backwards.
  • Check that no one is at the bottom of the slide before sliding down.
  • Once at the bottom of the slide move away.
  • No walking/running up or down the slide bed.

Ladders

  • Wait your turn. Keep your hands to yourself.
  • Hold onto the rung in front or railings when climbing the ladder.
  • Once at the top of the ladder, move away.

Swings

  • Hold onto the swing with both hands.
  • Do not stand on the swing seat.
  • Only one person on a swing at a time.
  • Stand/walk a safe distance from a swing (front and back).
  • No under-doggies.
  • No jumping from the swing. Remain seated until the swing has stopped.
  • No twisting the swings’ chains.
  • No climbing the support structures or swing supports.

Teeter Totters (Seesaws)

  • No crawling on the plank.
  • Only one person on each end.
  • No bumping the bottom of the teeter totters on the ground.
  • No getting off while another child is in the air.
  • Be sure the other person has their feet on the ground and is aware you are getting off.
  • No standing on the seat or bar between the seats.
  • No tucking legs, feet or hands under the teeter totter.

Merry Go Round

  • The merry-go-round must be stationary before climbing on or jumping off it.
  • Hold on tight to hand rail/handgrips when moving.
  • No dangling arms or legs or heads over the edge of the merry go round while it is moving.
  • Each participating student must have room to hold the hand rail/hand grips.

Monkey Bars

  • No climbing on top of monkey bars, if above chest height.
  • Keep a safe distance from one another.
  • When dropping off the rung, drop feet first and bend knees when landing.

Spring Rockers

  • No leaning too far forward or backward (that is, causing the rocker to hit the ground).
  • No crawling underneath the rocker
  • Keep hands away from the spring.
  • No jumping to rock harder.
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