Turn Your Playground into a Life-Size “Game Controller”

Meet the Game Buddy Playground Stencil—a big, bold, kid-magnet design that turns movement into a game. Painted onto the blacktop, it invites students to “press buttons” with their feet, follow prompts, and create their own action-packed sequences—just like playing a video game, except they’re the character! Once you have learned how to paint this design onto your play space, read below ideas on how the kids can use it for maximum physical activity!

How Kids Use It (Super Easy!)

This stencil is laid out like a familiar game controller, with each “button” tied to a motion. Kids simply step onto a button to do the action.

Direction Pad (left side)

Forward / Backward / Left / Right
Great for warm-ups, obstacle-style play, or adding direction to a movement challenge.

Action Buttons (right side)

• Spin
• Squat
• Dash
• Jump

Control Buttons (center + top)

• Pause / Play (freeze… then go!)
• Fast Motion (do the next moves quickly)
• Reverse Motion (repeat the last sequence backwards)
• Repeat (do it again!)
• Random (choose any action button)
• Speak (call out the next move)
• Listen (quiet challenge—follow the leader)
• (Headphones) Listen (perfect for “silent signals” or teacher-led cues)

5 Fun Ways to Play on the Playground

1) Follow-the-Leader Combos

One student is the “Player 1.” They step on 3–6 buttons in a row to build a combo (example: Jump → Right → Squat → Spin). Everyone copies it.
Hit Repeat to run it again, or Reverse Motion to do it backwards!

2) Teacher/Coach Command Mode (Great for PE)

Call out a sequence, and students move to each button as fast as they can:

• “Forward, Forward, Jump, Spin, Pause!”
• Use Fast Motion for a quick cardio burst.

3) Freeze Game (Pause / Play)

Kids move freely until someone hits Pause / Play—then everyone freezes in place. Hit it again to restart.

4) Random Challenge

Step on Random, then the group chooses any action button (Spin/Squat/Dash/Jump). Add a direction from the D-pad to make it trickier: “Random… Jump + Left!”

5) Team Relay Mode

Split into teams. Each team completes a combo course:

• Start at Forward
• Hit two directions
• Finish with an action button
  Fastest team wins—no equipment needed.