Educational Fun with Playground Stencils!

Playgrounds should be places that spark joy, creativity, and movement—and stenciling is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to make that happen! With warmer weather just around the corner, now is the perfect time to spruce up your playground with some fun Playground Stencils. From classic games to creative custom designs, stencils can turn plain pavement into a vibrant space for learning and play.

Playground stencils are an easy, cost-effective way to make colorful, interactive play spaces for kids. Our playground stencils also come with customizable options that put a fun, new twist on traditional playground games. Here is a sample of fun playground stencils from Stencil Ease. 

You can stencil classic playground games like hopscotch, educational enrichment activities like our Map of the World stencil or use stencils to add a pop of color or school spirit to drab pavement by stenciling a school mascot, logo, or creative designs to make your playground more exciting.

Playground stencils encourage active play for kids, which promotes healthy physical and mental development, and keeps kids healthy and happy. Adding colorfully stenciled games to your school playground is an inexpensive way to promote physical activity and play for students that will help them learn better in the classroom. Playground games can also be to teach children social skills like teamwork and conflict resolution.

Read on to learn more about turning your playground or park into a fun, colorful space for childish play!

What are Playground Stencils?

Playground stencils are an easy, cost-effective tool to paint playground games and decorative designs on playgrounds, schoolyards or driveways. Playground stencils are a great way to design recreational spaces for kids (and fun-loving adults) that encourage active play and exercise, as well as learning interpersonal skills like cooperation, team-work and peaceful conflict resolution.

Playground stencils provide an easy-to-use template for painting playground games on pavement with spray paint or sidewalk chalk. With stencils, you can paint clear, straight or perfectly curved lines with ease, no artistic talent needed.

Our playground stencils are made of durable plastic material that is easy to clean and can be reused many times, making them a long-term, cost-effective option for touching up faded hopscotch squares or basketball court lines.

Stencils are also a great way to brighten up a playground with bright colors and even showcase a little school spirit. You can stencil mascots, or hopscotch squares in school colors.

Our Playground Stencil Collections:

Bring back the fun with traditional playground games that never go out of style! These are easy to stencil and instantly recognizable—kids know what to do the second they see them.

• Hopscotch Stencil: The playground classic, Hopscotch is a fun interactive game for all ages. Our Hopscotch stencil comes in two sizes, with smaller and larger squares suitable for young children to middle schoolers. Our Dino Hopscotch stencil (Stegosaurus anyone?) and Jukebox Hopscotch stencil also offer fun, unique twists on the traditional hopscotch game. This stencil design makes it easy to paint/or chalk crisp, straight hopscotch squares in bright colors that will transform asphalt into an eye-catching play space. 

• Four Square Stencil: Another playground classic, Four Square is a great way to learn hand-eye coordination and teamwork. In addition to the traditional rules, there are many ways to add a new flair to the classic game, that keeps it fun and fresh for recess. This stencil is a great way to bring a colorful game template to recess. You can also get creative with the basic stencil template and add other unique designs within each of the four squares.
• Copycat Game Stencil: Simon Says meets Dance Dance Revolution in this fun, two-person playground activity. Two children face each other in identical circles, with smaller, colorful dots inside, complete with cute bear paws. One child starts by jumping on the colored dots in a pattern, and the other child tries to repeat the pattern. Each round speeds up, making the pattern more challenging to repeat each time. This game is a choice for active play, and helps kids build balance and coordination.

Get Moving with Active Play Paths

Encourage exercise and creativity with active playground stencils like:

• Mini Obstacle or Activity Courses Stencils: Stencil colorful playground obstacle courses or activity courses for kids to play on. You can design your own obstacle course with our Circle, Square, Diamond and Star Shapes stencils, tailoring the challenge to your targeted age group. You can also stencil mini tricycle courses to teach kids rules of the road, complete with stop signs and left turns. Or stencil a life size Snake and Ladders Game for kids to play!
• Sensory Paths Stencils: featuring routes for hopping, skipping, jumping, and running—great for races or just spontaneous fun. Our Circle Hop Stencil is an exciting, colorful activity course which includes spaces for kids to jump, hop, jog or crab walk or free style. Or you can use one of our diverse and education Fuel Up to Play stencil packs, which include fun games like the Slalom Jump Stencil, the Alphabet Centipede Stencil, and fun playground games that teach US Geography or Healthy Eating and more!

Educational Stencils That Make Learning Fun

Learning can be Play! You can help kids learn geography, math, the Alphabet, or conflict resolution with stencils from our exciting Fuel Up to Play Playground Stencils collection.

• Number clocks: Teach kids how to read an analog clock with our large Clock Stencil. You can stencil the clock with as many colors as your like to add more visual appeal. There are so many fun and creative games you can play with the stencil. For example, one person could call out different time (4:30, 5 to 8) and the other players have to run to that number. Like musical chairs on a clock.
• World and U.S. Maps: Help kids learn US and World geography with our US and World Map stencils. Again, feel free to have fun with your paint colors when using this stencil!
  
• Conflict Resolution Circles Game: Our Conflict Resolution Circle stencil is a fun, active and interactive way to teach children how to resolve conflict peacefully. Social skills like compromise, cooperation, active listening and negotiation are encourage when children play this conflict resolution game. And its fun too!

These playground stencil designs turn any blacktop into a hands-on, interactive classroom. Learning can be fun! Keep your students moving and learning inside and outside the classroom.

Customizable Playground Stencils

There are many creative ways you can customize your playground stencils. Bring science class outside to stencil atomic diagrams, the solar system or a large periodic table to make learning fun! Help kids learn road safety with a stenciled tricycle course complete with stop signs and turns. Or showcase unique art from students and staff on a large scale with a stenciled mural.

If you can imagine it, it can probably be turned into a stencil! 

We are constantly blown away by our customers’ stencil creativity and are delighted to help them realize their vision. If you have specific playground dimensions, or specific requests, we are happy to help customize playground stencils to your needs, send us your stencil request to service@stencilease.com or 1-800-334-1776.

Why Active Play is so Important

Playground games are more than just a fun recess activity, they are important for children’s social and physical development. Playground games encourage kids to engage in Active Play. Active play is an essential part of childhood development and learning and also buckets of FUN!

Outdoor, active play has been shown to nurture children's physical development, including balance and hand-eye coordination, and physical literacy.
Physical literacy is the confidence children develop in their physical abilities as they engage in active play and provides motivation to be physically active. Physical literacy helps children build and maintain an active lifestyle as they grow up and is essential to childhood health.

Active play also has numerous health benefits, including improving emotional well being and supporting a healthy immune system, improving cognitive abilities and reducing stress. More importantly, physical activity releases endorphins, the brain chemicals that make people happier; we laugh more, smile more, and have a more positive mindset when we engage in active play.

While Active Play can be done almost anywhere, it is most beneficial to children’s development when it is outdoors.

How to Stencil Playground Games

Playground stenciling is pretty simple, but there are a few tips and tricks that will ensure best results.

First, a note on stencil shipping. We ship our stencils rolled in a container that is both protective and efficient. When you first unbox your stencil, lay it out on the floor and allow some time for the stencil to flatten, this will be faster in a warmer room.

Painting the Playground: DIY or Pro?

Our stencils are easy to use for both professionals and DIYers! Professionals and contractors have access to specialty coatings (like those used on tennis courts) for extra durability and slip resistance and can offer fast, clean results. However, with a little planning, first time stencilers or DIYers can definitely stencil playgrounds. If you are new to stenciling, we recommend road marking paint for durability, or exterior paint for a wider color range.

Tip: Local businesses often pitch in to help schools paint playgrounds—don’t be shy about asking!

Now you know the ins and outs of playground stenciling, it’s time to turn your playground, school yard or driveway into a recess jungle gym! Shop our playground stencils and stenciling tools for your next stenciling project. Or contact us with your unique stencil request.

Painting Prep: Step-by-Step

1. Plan Your Layout
Measure your space, mark where each game goes, and make sure there’s enough room between designs.

2. Prep the Surface
Clean, dry, and smooth is the goal. Sweep or pressure wash as needed. On concrete, check if a primer is recommended.

3. Unroll the Stencils
Let them sit flat for a day before use. A sunny spot helps them relax.

4. Lay Out Your Design
Use chalk, string lines, and measuring tape to map everything out. Start with the biggest stencils.

5. Gather Your Tools

• Rollers (4" or 8") and pans for each color
• Brushes (1", 2", and 4" sizes for different tasks)
• Paper towels, water buckets, painter’s tape, rags
• Weights (bricks/rocks) to hold stencils down
• Cardboard or drop cloths for open paint cans

How to Paint a Stencil

Step 1: Outline First
Place the stencil, then lightly spray the design using aerosol paint. A spray box helps keep the lines clean.

Step 2: Fill with Color (Optional, but awesome!)
Remove the stencil and paint inside the outline with rollers or brushes. No need to tape if you're careful—the outline gives you a buffer.

Step 3: Re-Outline for Pop
Once the fill color is dry, replace the stencil and redo the outline for crisp, bold lines. A second coat often helps.

Step 4: Add Details
Use spray or a fine brush to paint numbers or smaller details.

Step 5: Touch Up and Finish
Fix any bleeds with a small angled brush, fill in stencil breaks if desired, and admire your work!

Check out our video tutorial for painting hopscotch—it walks through all of these steps in action!

Other Stenciling Tips:

How to Prevent Paint Bleed:

Stenciling is a little different from painting. A common stenciling mistake is paint bleed, this occurs when paint builds up too quickly and bleeds under the stencil, blurring the design. To prevent paint bleed, apply paint in multiple thin, even layers. If you are spray painting, spray light coats of paint that gradually accumulate.

Before you stencil, be sure to secure the stencil to the surface you are stenciling. For pavement stenciling, we recommend using painter’s tape to keep the stencil stationery while you stencil.

How to Clean the Stencil:

Our stencils are easy to clean and reusable. To prolong the life of your stencil, be sure to clean it before storing it for future projects. You can clean your stencil with water and soap or paint remover, depending on the type of paint you use. (For chalk stenciling, water and soap or a wet towel is sufficient).

Water based paints are soluble in water and can be removed with water and soap. For oil based paints, use a paint remover and follow the directions on your paint can. Store your clean and dried stencil flat or rolled.

Share your playground stenciling projects with us! We love seeing stenciling creativity in action!