Support students in the playground
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Supporting and strengthening peer relationships’
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Support recreational activities
Support recreational activities
Teach the rules for popular playground games, as some students won't pick them up just by watching.
Organise practice sessions for students that may need support with a small group of their peers.
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Support unstructured time
Support unstructured time
Unstructured times, such as lunchtimes, can create stress for some students.
Consider:
- having a small choice of organised activities for students to participate in at break times
- providing buddies to model and mediate (if necessary) interactions during break times
- ensuring that students know where to go to find the duty teacher or peer mediators when they are concerned or need some help
- how to make all staff aware of the support individual students may need and how to provide it most effectively
- outlining the school boundaries and the school rules regularly
- providing alternative break times for junior and senior syndicates in larger schools.
Create quiet spaces
Create quiet spaces
Identify with students, indoor and outdoor spaces for quiet play or alone time.
Welcome the use of earplugs or headphones to minimise sensory inputs.
![8806 [Playground-flickr.jpg]](https://inclusive-live-storagestack-assetstorages3bucket-3uty0hejzw6u.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/inclusive-education/example-images/Playground-flickr__ScaleMaxWidthWzEwODZd.jpg)
Develop buddy systems
Develop buddy systems
Investigate initiating a buddy system where students offer to provide support for a peer in playground games.
Consider the environment
Consider the environment
Work with students to identify adaptations that can be made to enable everyone to participate.
Sensory integration
Include students with sensitivity to bright light and loud noises by:
- lowering the volume when using music
- using soundproof headphones in the gym or hall
- using sunglasses for outdoor activities in bright sunlight
- turning off some lights and relying more on natural lighting or using LED light bulbs.
Accessibility
Hard surfaces such as concrete may be dangerous for individuals with dyspraxia, and softer surfaces such as wood chips make it difficult to manoeuver a wheelchair.
- Use appropriate surface, such as gym or hall, rather than concrete.
- Use outdoor mats.
- Adapt games and activities so all can participate, for example, play a game such as sitting volleyball or scooter soccer.
Useful resources
Useful resources
Recess for your child with special needs: 7 challenges and solutions
Read time: 6 min
This is a series of suggestions to support students with special needs to participate during playtime and lunchtimes.
Publisher: Friendship Circle Special Needs Resource Blog
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Support and strengthen peer relationships”:
-
Current page Support students in the playground
Return to the guide “Supporting positive peer relationships”
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How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: Positive peer relationships
Strategies for action:
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Support and strengthen peer relationshipsShow suggestions for Support and strengthen peer relationships
- Teach social skills
- Understand social and emotional learning
- Facilitate positive peer relationships
- Support friendships
- Support students in the playground
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Facilitate collaborative learningShow suggestions for Facilitate collaborative learning
