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Playground Assistant Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

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Playground Assistant information

What are some common challenges playground assistants face and how can they overcome them?

Playground Assistants often encounter challenges such as managing large groups of energetic children, mediating conflicts, and ensuring safety at all times. To overcome these challenges, it's important to establish clear rules, maintain constant supervision, and communicate effectively with both children and staff. Building rapport with the students and collaborating with teachers can also help create a positive and structured play environment, making it easier to address issues as they arise.

What is a playground assistant?

Playground assistants are staff members who supervise children during break times, usually in school playgrounds or recreational areas. Their main responsibilities include ensuring children's safety, encouraging positive play, resolving minor conflicts, and providing basic first aid when necessary. Playground assistants help create a safe and enjoyable environment for children to play, socialize, and develop social skills. They often work closely with teachers and other school staff to support student well-being.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a playground assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Playground Assistant, you need basic first aid knowledge, child supervision skills, and often a background in childcare or education. Familiarity with incident reporting systems and playground safety standards is typically required. Strong communication, patience, and the ability to engage positively with children are standout soft skills. These abilities ensure a safe, supportive, and enjoyable environment for children during playtime.

What is the difference between Playground Assistant vs Camp Counselor?

AspectPlayground AssistantCamp Counselor
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some positions may require CPR/First AidHigh school diploma; CPR/First Aid certification often preferred
Work EnvironmentSchool playgrounds, parks, recreational facilities during school hoursSummer camps, day camps, overnight camps during summer months
Employer & IndustrySchools, community centers, parksSummer camps, youth organizations

While both roles involve supervising children and ensuring safety, Playground Assistants typically work during school hours in school or community settings, focusing on playground supervision. Camp Counselors work primarily during summer camps, managing activities and providing entertainment. Both roles require similar certifications and share a focus on child safety, but differ mainly in work environment and seasonal employment.

What are popular job titles related to Playground Assistant jobs in Wisconsin? For Playground Assistant jobs in Wisconsin, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Playground Assistant jobs in Wisconsin look for? The top searched job categories for Playground Assistant jobs in Wisconsin are:
Playground Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Playground Assistant job openings in Wisconsin as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution.

Playground Instructional Assistant (Part Time)

Sun Prairie Area School District

Sun Prairie, WI • On-site

$19.34/hr

Part-time

PTO

Re-posted 9 days ago

Sun Prairie Area School District rating

7.1

Company rating: 7.1 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

254th of 622 rated elementary and secondary schools

Job description

Position Type:
Support Staff - Instructional Support/Instructional Assistant
Date Posted:
6/30/2026
Location:
Westside Elementary
(High-Needs School)
Date Available:
08/24/2026
Hourly Rate: $19.34+ (based on experience)
This position is part time, 3 hours per day (10:15 am - 1:15 pm), Monday through Friday, during the school year. See attached work calendar for exact work dates. This position comes with paid time off.
Summary
The purpose of this position is to provide the best academic and social/emotional environment to ensure learning for all students in all school settings, including classroom and playground. To create a learning experience that maximizes the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of the students and helps them to learn to problem solve. To supervise students ensuring their safety and well-being on the playground, bus area, cafeteria, classrooms, and transitional spaces before, during, and after school.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.
  • Supervises students on the playground, cafeteria, classrooms and other areas before, during and after school.
  • Maintains safe environments before, during and after school in structured and non-structured settings understanding individual student intervention strategies including IEPs.
  • Oversees the cafeteria during breakfast and lunch, following state sanitation regulations and monitoring student food allergies and food safety.
  • Communicates with parents and students during drop off and pick up to ensure a safe and orderly environment during transitions.
  • Assisting students in identifying actions and consequences and ways to resolve conflicts and solve problems, intervening when students' actions are potentially harmful or dangerous.
  • Makes a personal connection with students demonstrating that they are caring adults who will listen and facilitate other internal and external interventions as needed.
  • Provides consistency for students as a trusted adult doing daily check-in and check-out taking the time to listen and make positive connections with students.
  • Model Positive Behavior Instructional Support (PBIS) with students and participates in PBIS planning teams as requested.
  • Analyze, develop, and share school wide efforts on PBIS initiatives using school wide data to drive decision making and modify interventions.
  • Collaborate with other school personnel regarding student achievement, classroom instruction and behavioral expectations.
  • Provides supplemental academic interventions as directed by the teachers for students in large group, small group instruction, and one-on-one settings.
  • Focused on assigned grade levels and are required to learn and be confident in the curriculum of that grade level to support student's academic needs.
  • Provides classroom coverage during periods when teachers are not present.
  • Provides instructional support to students during academic blocks.
  • Supports, schedules and proctors state and local district assessments.
  • Provide basic first aid to students; distribute medications as needed; contact parents of sick or injured students; maintain injury logs and participate in appropriate training sessions, such as blood borne pathogens, medical skill training, CPR, first aid, etc.
  • Performs various duties to assist teachers including copying, filing, data entry, correcting papers, laminating, binding, preparing materials, and other projects as needed.
  • Scans student meal accounts during breakfast and lunch.
  • Maintains confidentiality of student records.
  • Prepares materials and participates in activities to support the beginning of the school year.
  • Provides back up to other support positions within the school setting.
  • Determines indoor and outdoor recess following district policies and procedures.
  • Monitor outside equipment and environment and notify facilities and grounds when repairs are needed.
  • Scans environment with an eye for potential hazards.
  • Other activities as assigned

Minimum Training and Experience Required To Perform Essential Job Functions
Must meet the following NCLB standards for this position. (1) Completed two years of study at an institution of higher education, (2) obtained an associate's degree (or higher) or (3) be able to demonstrate through a formal assessment, the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing and mathematics. Must be willing to attend the following district workshops: Above the Line, Play works playground Workshop, Reading, writing and math instructional strategies, PBIS training, First Aid, CPR/AED training, code training, and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention. Must possess a valid driver's license.
Minimum Physical and Mental Abilities Required To Perform Essential Job Functions
Physical Requirements
  • Provide classroom and individual student behavioral support and associated record keeping as needed including data entry.
  • Ability to operate a variety of office equipment including photocopier, laminating machine, paper cutter, die cut, binder, scanner, computer, printer, etc.
  • Must have current physical on file with the District Office certifying applicant is able to meet all job qualifications.
  • Ability to stand, walk, talk, hear; lift, transfer, move from floor to standing quickly and otherwise assist students.
  • Ability to stand/walk on uneven surfaces with changing conditions outdoors (grass, hills, playground mulch, paved areas, etc.).

Mathematical Ability
  • Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide and calculate decimals, fractions and percentages.
  • Ability to understand and use district math curriculum, math language, and manipulatives for grades Kindergarten through 5th grade.

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication
  • Ability to comprehend, interpret and/or prepare a variety of documents, including attendance reports, enrollment reports, disciplinary reports, etc. tests and instructional materials, confidential files, health cards, computer manuals, student/parent handbook, purchase orders, etc. using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
  • Ability to read, write, and speak and to do so with expression.
  • Ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures and follow instructions.
  • Ability to make fast decisions, recognizes early signs of negative behavior, and remains calm when re-directing students.
  • Ability to problem solve, use professional judgment and maintain confidentiality of information concerning students and staff.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with professional educators, colleagues, students, parents, administrators, sales representatives, delivery persons, police officers, School Board members, nurses, transportation representatives, the general public, and others verbally and in writing.
  • Ability to engage students in culturally responsive, positive working relationships that demonstrate to students that staff members are helpful, caring adults.

Environmental Adaptability
  • Ability to work effectively outdoors and in a classroom environment.
  • Navigate through adverse weather and external environmental conditions.

Attachment(s):
  • 2026-27 192 DAY SUPPORT STAFF CALENDAR.pdf

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