If you’ve ever returned from recess feeling more exhausted than refreshed, you are not alone! Time on the playground has the potential to be one of the hardest parts of your day as a kindergarten or first grade teacher. The excitement, noise, and bounds of endless energy can be a LOT to manage. Without clear playground rules, the freedom kids get outside can quickly spiral into hurt feelings, frustration, and even safety issues. It doesn’t have to be this way though— you can approach recess with the same proactive and positive mindset that you teach routines and expectations INSIDE your classroom.
Keep reading for lots of great ideas for setting your students up for success, fun, and safety on the playground!
Kindergarteners and first graders (& even many second graders!) are still learning how to be safe, understand social cues, and take personal responsibility. Recess is a place where friendships can blossom but also where many conflicts can erupt.
When kids don’t understand the physical or social boundaries of others, they might push too hard, run into others, or make unkind choices. Teaching playground rules is a MUST for kids at this stage.
In the same way that you don’t expect students to walk into your classroom on the first day of school and know exactly what to do, you can’t expect them to navigate the playground effectively without lots of support.
Instead of focusing on playground rules as restrictions or limits to outdoor fun, introduce them as “playground promises.” This simple shift changes the tone from “you can’t do that” and “don’t do this” to “I promise to make safe and kind choices.”
This shift makes a huge difference in the way kids act and react while they are playing outside!
Promises feel personal and give students ownership over their actions. Instead of following a playground rule because someone told them to, kids start to act from an internal motivation— because they made a promise and want to keep it!
Examples of Playground Promises:
These promises help kids begin to see themselves as capable, kind, and responsible members of the class.
Of course, teaching Playground Promises doesn’t mean you won’t ever have problems or that you should ignore them when they come up. It just means that you choose to focus on encouraging positive choices first. This proactive approach to behavior management helps you reduce time spent on redirection and makes recess feel more joyful for everyone!
Kids learn best when they’re moving and doing a variety of interactive activities. Use these low-prep options found in the Playground Promises Resource to make things engaging for your students and easy for you:
To play this sorting game, hang posters on opposite sides of your classroom or the playground. Read the included behavior cards out loud one at a time.
Students move to the matching poster. Encourage walking if you are in your classroom, but running is a great option if you’re doing this activity outdoors!
Another sorting option is to complete a whole group sort at the carpet. Read each behavior card out loud one at a time and then students place their card either in the Promises or Problems group.
For this activity, use a pocket chart or large paper to make your own classroom anchor chart.
Pass out behavior cards to students or groups. Then, they take turns placing the cards under “Playground Promises” or “Playground Problems.”
Take this activity one step further by discussing why a few of the problem cards are not good playground behaviors. This will help students internalize this concept more easily.
Use the writing pages to encourage students to reflect on their learning about Playground Promises.
Easily differentiate this activity by providing more support for students using the option with the sentence starter. For more advanced writers, allow them to use the pages without sentence starters.
Encourage students to draw a picture of what they wrote about, too!
Finally, use the paperless Playground Promises slides to make learning interactive and fun.
Project the slides on your classroom board. Students take turns coming up to the board to circle the options that show good choices.
*These slides are a great, quick option when students need to review playground expectations!
Creating a classroom culture where students feel safe, valued, and connected doesn’t stop at your classroom door. Recess is an extension of your learning space, and the way students feel and behave outside reflects what they have learned inside.
That’s why playground rules matter so much—and why framing them as promises helps reinforce the values you’re teaching every day. When kids feel ownership over their behavior and know you believe in their ability to make good choices, they will rise to the occasion!
A positive learning environment helps create stronger relationships among students and makes learning easier. Students can focus more on academic instruction when they know what to expect throughout every part of the school day (including recess!).
And when recess goes smoothly, the rest of the day feels more manageable— and everyone wins!
Check out the other posts to learn how to address behavior management in different places throughout the school with your favorite little learners:
Find hands-on, movement-based activities to teach all of these expectations in the School Promises Big Bundle!
Of course you do! Drop your email below, and I’ll send you exclusive activities for Partner Promises.
These activities will get your students working cooperatively in no time!
Recess doesn’t have to be chaos! By teaching playground rules using clear expectations and positive language— and adding in lots of fun— you’ll create a space where students feel safe to play, learn, and grow.
I’m a teacher who believes in creating a classroom kids love and activities that keep them engaged all day!
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