ABSTRACT
This chapter describes a playground audit which was a tool designed to provide schools with specific data to support a review or even a rethink of play spaces prior to making changes. Motivation for using a playground audit comes from a school community’s desire to obtain data to describe what is happening in their playground. The chapter suggests that any problems related to playgrounds should be addressed from solution-focused and strengths-based approaches. Many school-aged students are developing the interpersonal skills needed to make or maintain friendships, and to participate in games or use specific equipment. The parents indicated that they liked the large open spaces and a preference for trees and wooden structures as opposed to coloured plastic static play equipment. Systematic observations of the school playgrounds were undertaken with a specific focus on students’ play activities; student-teacher interactions and, social groupings for play.
