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Playground Supervision

  • 1.  Playground Supervision

    Posted 01-04-2019 08:07 PM
    Hello all!

    We've been struggling with teachers spreading out on the playground. No matter what we say or do, we can never seem to get our teachers out of their small clusters. We have a large playground (we are based in Southern California, so we are lucky enough to spend a lot of time outside), and we always seem to have teachers clustering together in the middle of our playground. We don't expect teachers to stay put in one area, our hope is that they move around, engage with the children, and most importantly, help children when they need help. Inevitably, there is always one area of the playground that lacks supervision. We are tempted to mark X's in the areas that we want teachers to be stationed. Or start giving our rewards for teachers who are doing a good job of covering the yard, or start doing write-ups for the teachers we find clustered.

    Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on how to fix this issue? HELP! We're desperate!

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    Sara Fox
    Assistant Director
    CrossRoads Children's Center
    Simi Valley CA
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  • 2.  RE: Playground Supervision

    Posted 01-06-2019 01:19 AM
    Every few months we map out the yard and assign areas for our outdoor classroom based on the children and staff interest. We pass the yard map around and staff signs up for an area that they want to keep interesting. This also means they are supervising the children in the area.

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    Nina Betonte
    Little Sunshine House
    Long Beach CA
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  • 3.  RE: Playground Supervision

    Posted 01-07-2019 11:44 AM
    Hello to everyone,

    My belief is that the children's safety is first priority.  When we go out to nearby playgrounds, I make sure that I station myself on one place l ask my assistant to do the same.  We also walk around from time to time, always spotting them.  It is very important to emphasize to the teachers and aids that we do not know if some parents are watching us or even nannies.  These days everyone has cell phones, where pictures can be taken and we should be professionals.





  • 4.  RE: Playground Supervision

    Posted 01-07-2019 04:59 PM
    Hi all,

    Interestingly, this issue dovetails with a discussion thread: Solo teacher burn out? where I used the example of teachers clumping up in the yard to chat, rather than focus on children.

    I framed the issue in terms of adult needs for sociability being unmet in their professional ECE work life. As with children, their behavior is a non-verbal call for attention to be paid, an issue to be understood.

    I think all the ideas mentioned are useful, but I would suggest asking the teachers to be part of the conversation. Try starting with the acknowledgment that this work can be isolating and that you would like to create a culture of respect for adult social needs as well as children's. I think that the teachers can recognize that the needs of the children generally come first, but I think they will appreciate a director recognizing their needs and including them in the problem solving. It may be possible for them to work in pairs or small groups of choice at times.

    Also worth thinking about: children benefit from time on their own, creating their own worlds and sorting out their own problems. Another fruitful discussion would be about how much intervention is needed, when and why. In this way teachers could be more conscious about when they are ok to chat and plan among themselves and when they should focus directly on children or a specific child.

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    Karen Lefkovitz
    Independent Consultant
    Philadelphia PA
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  • 5.  RE: Playground Supervision

    Posted 01-06-2019 09:45 AM
    Try videotaping the playground, focusing on the children. In professional devt session, have teachers make observations about the children...what they are saying and doing. What kind of good information can they gain by watching closely? A zone defense like someone else mentioned would be good too.

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    Kathy Haule
    Flower Mound TX
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  • 6.  RE: Playground Supervision

    Posted 01-06-2019 11:26 AM
    I have one suggestion for you. You can ask the teachers to set up some very simple games in the different parts of the playground, like throwing balls, making bubbles, playing jumping games. It is free play time but there are always children who will enjoy some extra attention and fun time with the teachers. This way the teacher can interact with the children in a playful way and can supervise their area at the same time. I hope it can be helpful for you.

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    Hajnalka Abraham
    Firenze
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  • 7.  RE: Playground Supervision

    Posted 01-07-2019 11:02 AM
    I think in our field going outside feels like a break time as we move away from the work of the classroom. The children are enjoying their outside play and socializing so teachers often see this as a time to rejuvenate themselves by coming together. Of course the outdoor classroom has the same needs for supervision and guidance as the indoor one but the belief behind the action is why this can be a challenging issue. So I would suggest talking to the teachers about the belief behind the action and them have them create suggestions for improving the practice of playground supervision.

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    Gregory Baker
    Portland OR
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  • 8.  RE: Playground Supervision

    Posted 01-07-2019 04:35 PM
    Have the teachers plan daily for outdoor activities, in the lesson plan, for the children and staff to participate in. Examples may include obstacle course, red rover, red light green light, side walk chalk, sensory table, kick ball, balance beam, painting, musical chairs and other activities suggested by children and staff. Staff should be required to actively supervise children with in their zone/area of the play ground.  Stress the importance of active supervision of children and play with children outdoors.

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    Alice Westerman
    Early Learning Mentor Coach
    CSI Head Start/Early Head Start
    Twin Falls ID
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  • 9.  RE: Playground Supervision

    Posted 01-08-2019 12:48 AM
    Hi we have had this issue too. We were introduced to the word Zones... Each teacher spoke out to say what and where the zones were in their minds. After all spoke there thoughts. we came together to fix a schedule which rotates everyone in a different area each day. 
    Children's safety will always be first. It takes a team to help a child on several issues. or a group of children in one area. that need to problem solve.Every now and then someone will call zones and we all regroup We are Childcare Teachers where children come first..

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    Diana Finnie LEDC of Jefferson City Missouri

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  • 10.  RE: Playground Supervision

    Posted 01-08-2019 09:22 AM
    Hello!
    In the interest of safety, we created a map of our outdoor play space and created zones that require coverage.  Staff spread themselves out so that all zones are covered.  This has worked pretty well.  We also give friendly reminders of playground supervision needs as needed.  Also, as we have several outdoor garden areas (sensory, fine arts, nature), in addition to our playground area, as a staff we created a document that shares ideas for standards based activities that can take place in the garden areas.  Staff shared some wonderful activities for each space and this keeps everyone engaged and active.

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    Michele Ramsey Principal
    CCSD 59 Early Learning Center
    Mt Prospect IL
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  • 11.  RE: Playground Supervision

    Posted 01-09-2019 12:59 PM
    Good suggestions overall, but until we understand the importance of outdoor experiences for children, this will be a continual issue for so many programs. There is a paradigm shift needed in early childhood education to fully value the experiences and learning opportunities that children have in a quality outdoor classroom. All children need teachers who are in tune with them, who understand what their needs are and who will respond to them in ways that support their overall development, remembering the importance their emotional and psychological development. This requires teachers to be aware of and in tune with children, and in full observation and responding mode. In many programs, staffing is often reduced when children are outdoors due to teacher break time or planning time and, in general, time outdoors is devalued by parents and educators alike. There is ample research that shows that children benefit tremendously from quality outdoor classrooms with teachers who are engaged and enthusiastically supporting them in their work. It is critically important for teachers to look at outdoor time for children as a time for deep investigation, learning, connecting with nature and for teachers to understand what their role should be. Research also shows that children learn better, learn more, have better social skills and stronger language skills and are happier and healthier in a quality natural outdoor environment. Once teachers fully understand this and move towards providing quality experiences and opportunities, the issue of clustering teachers does decrease. I know this doesn't address what to do in the moment, but to fully meet the needs of all children we are serving, programs need to move beyond 'recess' and 'supervisions' to 'outdoor classrooms' and engaged teachers. We all have a really hard job, working with children, and in the end, providing a quality outdoor environment with engaging opportunities for children actually make our jobs easier. Children are engaged, busy and needing less corrective responses from teachers. Everybody wins!

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    Ellen Veselack
    Preschool Director
    Child Educational Center
    Los Angeles CA
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  • 12.  RE: Playground Supervision

    Posted 01-09-2019 02:20 PM
    Couldn't agree more.  In order to make that paradigm shift in ECE we need to learn and share about outdoor/nature experiences play.  Maybe those interested in the topic could join the Young Children and Nature interest forum and offer some thoughts/ideas in that forum.  There are also a fair number of Nature Preschools across the US (and in other countries) and many share their beliefs, mission, curricula, etc., which can be helpful as we all try to become better versed on this topic.  The November 2018 issue of Young Children also offered some interesting articles on this topic.  As with everything, the more we know, the better we can do.  

    The more we can educate all educators (regardless of role), State BOEs, designers and builders of learning spaces, and the public-at-large, on the benefits, the WHY, of outdoor classrooms, nature exploration/connection and more, the more we'll be able to shift the paradigm.  As administrators (for those of us who are), I think the onus is on us to become better informed, share information (the WHY, HOW, WHAT & WHO) with our staff, and grow/support change in this area. 

    In considering the development of the whole child, I think it goes without saying that outdoor spaces/classrooms/time and growing a connection with nature within our students is critical.  When our District decided to build a new early learning center this was a major driver in our design.  We've been fortunate to work with architects and design folks who are very forward thinking and have a well developed understanding of the role that the great outdoors, nature, exploration, play, and more, have in children's learning.  Have to give Legat Architects a shout-out here, Well Done!  If you're interested in seeing a summary of what they say in regard to this and our Early Learning Center, you can visit their website: https://www.legat.com/ccsd59-early-learning-center-3-years-after-construction.

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    Michele Ramsey
    Principal
    CCSD 59 Early Learning Center
    Mt Prospect ILPrincipal
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  • 13.  RE: Playground Supervision

    Posted 01-09-2019 04:03 PM
    Thanks Michele, it is good to know others feel as strongly about this as we do here in our organization. There are so many organizations doing really good work around the world to make this happen (Nature Explore, the World Forum's Working Forum on Nature Education for Young Children, Natural Start Alliance and probably about 100 more!) We have to keep the conversation going!!

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    Ellen Veselack
    Preschool Director
    Child Educational Center
    Los Angeles CA
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