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.

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.

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.