Playground Interventions

PBS Playground Interventions start with school-wide interventions. These playground interventions should include the following.

• Setting, posting, and teaching school-wide playground rules.

                Example Play Ground Rules

• Follow the rules of the game.
• Use equipment in a safe way.
• Everyone can play.
• Keep hands and feet to yourself.
• Use Kind Words

• Social skills instruction

Teaching students important social skills will help have fun on the playground and be successful in other areas of their life as well.

         Possible Social Skills:

• How to Ask to Join In
• Sharing Something
• Responding to Teasing
• Being a Good sport

       * For more social skills refer to “The Prepare Curriculum” by Arnold P. Goldstein.

• Adult supervision &  Organized games

Playground supervisors should be assigned different sections of the playground. They should then circulate and monitor their section, initiate organized games, and reinforce positive behavior.

• Modifying the playground to facilitate appropriate play

Arranging play areas for different activities make available equipment for games (i.e. Soccer balls, Kickball bases, jump ropes, and other games).

*Other possible intervention could include group contingencies or peer mediation.

After implementing school-wide intervention a school might choose to target tertiary students by conducting a self-management program focused on students with aggressive behavior.

Self-management program

• Self-management Training Period
• During this phase students were taught to
• Rate their own recess behavior
• Compare their rating with recess supervisors
• Meet with supervisor twice each lunch recess

More information available at

Marchant, M., & Christensen, L.  (2007).  A treatment package for improving playground behavior and eliminating bullying within a PBS model. Paper presented at the 4th annual International Conference on PBS.

              http://education.byu.edu/pbsi/documents/APBS_Exter_Play.pdf

Franzen K. and  Kamps D. (2008) The Utilization and Effects of Positive Behavior Support Strategies on an Urban School Playground.  Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 10 (Jul),  150 - 161.