To have a sense of how playgrounds are today compared to when we were all kids, we can look to the Laurel School in Atheron California, which publishes its rules and regulations for the playground on its website. When I was coming up in the world, the only rules of the playground I remember was the ‘code’ between students. Well that and my schools did take issue with fighting and perhaps swearing. Nonetheless, looking at the Laurel School we see 29 different rules/regulations for proper play. I’m not sure what bothers me more, the content of the rules or their codification. Any bolding of words in the rules is my doing. And what’s the ‘two-kick’ rule in tether ball?

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Playground rules are for the safe conduct of playtime. Common sense is the basis for all decisions that are made when on yard duty. Specific rules are made to prevent the more dominant students from controlling games and taking advantage of other students.

1. Students should be thoughtful and considerate of other students and the noon-time supervisors.
2. Students are to enter the office only when given permission or in case of emergency.
3. Students use the office phone with the teacher’s permission only.
4. Students are to ask for permission to use the restroom or to go to a room for something specific (most rooms are locked). Students must take a partner to go to the office or bathroom.
5. If a student is hurt slightly and needs an ice pack or Band-Aid, they are sent to the office with another student to accompany them. If a student is hurt badly enough not to be moved, another student is sent to the office for help.
6. All problems are to be reported directly to the supervisor on duty. Students should not run directly to the office without permission.
7. There is to be no running in and out of the walkways or corridors at any time. Children should freeze when a teacher blows the whistle or when the bell rings. Two whistle blows unfreezes the children. When the lunch bell rings, students should walk to the lunch tables. Running causes accidents. When the bell rings to end lunch or recess, students should stop and walk immediately to their own classroom line.
8. Games played during recess should be safe games. Chasing games, tackle football or other contact activities are not permitted.
9. Students are not to play in and around the bathrooms.
10. Students should not bring personal play things from home unless they are using them for “Show and Tell”.
11. Children are not to climb trees or fences.
12. Students are to stay in the playground area and not enter the parking lot from the second grade playground.
13. No standing on or twisting the swings.
14. No more than 3 on a tire swing.
15. Sit down on the slide, go down one at a time. No going up the slide at any time.
16. No running under swings.
17. No jumping off of swings.
18. Start at green end of bars, stop at the red end.
19. No standing or sitting on top of bars.
20. Jump ropes are to be used for jumping only.
21. Students are not to sit on the tether balls.
22. No bats or tennis balls are allowed at school. Only soft Nerf-type balls may be used to play catch. No playing with sticks or rocks.
23. Bikes are not to be ridden on the school grounds. Please walk bikes to the bike rack. Students are permitted in the bike rack areas only when they are dropping off and picking up their own bike.
24. Skateboards are not allowed for safety and storage reasons.
25. No chewing gum is allowed on the school premises.
26. Students may eat only in the designated lunch area and should pick up nearby trash as they leave. Yard duty person will excuse each student.
27. Language and gestures need to be appropriate to the school setting. When in doubt, there is a general rule: If it could be said to the principal, it can be said to anybody.
28. Students are not to play inside any fenced construction area.
    
29. Students are not to handle any fencing materials.
    

Kindergarten students use the playground and equipment outside of rooms K & B-2. The equipment in the storage shed is for the kindergartners to use. The equipment is handed out by the yard duty person. The children should exchange equipment every 5 to 10 minutes when the yard duty person blows the whistle and announces, “Trade!”
First Graders use the “primary” yard: the area north of B and C buildings. First graders must remain on the C building end of the turf area and not venture close to the second grade playground.

Second Graders use the grounds near G building. They can use the turf and blacktop area along Ringwood Ave. Students are to stay out of the parking lot area.
No students should play behind or in the bushes.

Tether Ball and wall ball games are to be played by the rules. No player can give permission to change the rules. Wall ball games have a “two-kick” rule.