As students return back to school, setting norms becomes essential in easing the transition.
Shared norms are important throughout the school day, from the classroom to the playground and even back at home. Without shared norms, even the simplest interactions can turn into disputes, and the joy of returning to school can quickly disappear.
Just as game rules create a fun and cooperative play environment, shared norms establish a stable and cohesive school community. As students return to school, establishing clear norms helps them understand expectations, fostering a sense of responsibility and mutual respect. For teachers, these norms provide a framework for creating a positive and productive classroom environment. For families, consistent norms across school and home life support children’s mental well-being, making the transition back to school smoother and more enjoyable.
What Are Norms?
Norms are the agreed-upon expectations that guide behavior in different settings. They help create a sense of predictability and security. On the playground, norms might include waiting in line before you jump into the foursquare game or returning play equipment to a central location when the bell rings. In the classroom, norms involve raising a hand to speak and listening quietly while others are talking. At home, norms might include cleaning up after oneself and using an “indoor voice” when playing in the house.
Why Setting Norms Matters
Norms provide a framework that helps children understand what is expected of them and how to interact with others. Setting norms is about teaching children the importance of developing shared expectations and holding yourself and others accountable to them.
Norms and Emotional Regulation
Norms also play a crucial role in helping children with emotional regulation.
“We really have to think about what’s going on inside the brains of kids,” said Will Massey, a researcher at Oregon State University who focuses on play and child development.
Kids who experience trauma often have a mental state that is more keyed up at baseline; instead of going from calm to alert when something unexpected happens, they are more likely to go from alert to terrified.
“What we want to do, is to come up with strategies to help build environments to get kids to these more calm and alert states, so that not only can they learn new skills, but they can also use the skills they already have,” Massey shared.
Creating consistent norms and expectations is one such strategy. When children know what to expect, they feel more secure and can better regulate their emotions and respond to triggers more healthily.
The Role of Play in Reinforcing Norms
Play is a powerful tool in helping children uphold norms. Through play, children learn to follow rules, take turns, and respect others. Games and activities that incorporate norm-setting can make this process fun and engaging. For example, playing cooperative games where success depends on everyone following the rules teaches children the value of collective responsibility and mutual respect.
As a result, recess and playtime can be an excellent starting point for establishing norms with your students. By taking time at the beginning of the school year to create a list of shared norms or agreements, and posting them somewhere visible, you can help students understand expectations in the classroom and beyond.
Positive Reinforcement: High Fives and Beyond
Positive reinforcement is crucial in encouraging children to adhere to norms. Simple gestures like high fives, verbal praise, and rewards can motivate children to follow guidelines and encourage their peers to do the same. Celebrating successes, no matter how small, fosters a sense of accomplishment and reinforces positive behavior.
Download this free poster to help remind students and staff of positive phrases and gestures they can use during playtime.
Benefits of Setting Norms
At School:
- Enhanced Learning Environment: Clear norms help create a predictable and supportive environment conducive to learning.
- Improved Social Skills: Children learn to interact respectfully and collaboratively, enhancing their social development.
- Increased Accountability: Children understand their responsibilities and hold each other accountable, leading to a more harmonious classroom.
At Home:
- Consistency and Routine: Norms help establish healthy routines, making children feel secure and reducing conflicts.
- Positive Behavior: Clear guidelines promote desirable behaviors, creating a more peaceful and cooperative household.
- Life Skills: Children develop essential life skills such as responsibility, respect, and cooperation.
How Playworks Can Help
At Playworks, we understand the significance of setting norms, especially during recess and playtime. Our team is dedicated to helping schools and community-based organizations establish and maintain norms that create a positive play environment on the playground for students and staff.
By promoting positive behavior through play, we help schools build a culture of respect, responsibility, and inclusivity. These efforts not only enhance the playground experience but also translate into improved behavior and learning in the classroom.
Setting norms is a vital aspect of fostering a supportive and thriving environment for children. By integrating play and positive reinforcement, we can make the process enjoyable and effective. Together, we’re working to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.
Connect with us to learn how to bring Playworks to your school!
