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Playground Games and Markings

There are literally hundreds of different playground markings which provide an opportunity to stimulate children into experiencing a wide variety of physical movements in a healthy and educational form whilst at the same time elevating the status of the playground to a level it has not previously enjoyed.

Games of a learning nature reinforce the basic concepts of numeracy and literacy, basic anatomy, geography and orienteering. Remember that learning inside the class room should be enhanced and supported by activity outside the class room.

Play is a factor in the pattern of total education that should never be underrated. Through play, learning is an enjoyable mode to develop mobility, strength that simultaneously builds on their mental capacities, helping create confidence and self-esteem.

The Roadmarker

Article – “Helping Alleviate Bullying and Obesity in Our Playgrounds”
Page 14- Edition 3- May 2004

By providing activity-based playground designs in brightly painted finishes we offer a great alternative to the boring and drab concrete and asphalt play areas.

Besides providing an aesthetically pleasing and engaging environment for children, these play ground marking “increase physical activity and decrease bullying and playground confrontations”. (Webster, Hogan and Vega – 2004)
Many schools have commented that following the application of activity markings there has been an improvement in playground behaviour. Studies in Australia and overseas highlight that “75% of bullying in schools has been found to occur on the playground” (Smith & Sharp, 1991) of the suggested causes is boredom or a lack of stimulus.

“Children with little to do during their playtime may resort to seeking adventure through various forms of illicit play – for example, fighting, teasing and annoying other children” (Evans, 1989)

Results from the National Survey of (British) Schools (Batchford 1998) show that there is a general view among staff in one in four schools that behavior at break times has deteriorated, with an increase in aggression and more difficult behavior. The study concluded that children today tend to be less constructive in play, more likely to be idle in the playground and have forgotten many of the once traditionally played games. This lack of purpose can quite often be the root of many bullying problems.

Play ground activity also has beneficial results on the health of our youngsters. Obesity amongst children is on the rise is becoming a dire social issue, which must be addressed across the community. A study carried our by Stratton (2000) on the effects of playground markings on children’s physical activity levels, “found an increase in both moderate and vigorous activity levels from 27 to 45 minutes using playground markings”. Some of the spin off benefits from physical activity including greater concentration and increased self esteem go a long way towards helping our youngsters develop into well balanced happy young adults. Teaching good nutrition with balanced exercise is now becoming a subject being adopted by many schools. Part of these programs involves playground activities to balance classroom teaching.

Roadsigns provides a range of items, which will enhance any playground and support many school programs targeting childhood obesity and playground bullying.