Once your door lock integration with Kisi or MellinTech is active, Playground becomes the only app you need to open, monitor, and control your doors. This article walks you through how to open a door using our software, and additional settings related to access control.
Software Features
The two ways to open connected doors through Playground are through the mobile app, or via a tablet in kiosk mode (commonly referred to as the check-in kiosk).
Mobile App Unlock
You can unlock a connected door through the Playground mobile app.
From your mobile app home screen, open your menu by tapping the ☰ icon in the top left and select Door Access.
From your mobile app home screen, open your menu by tapping the ☰ icon in the top left and select Door Access.
3. You'll see a list of all of your connected doors. Tap the row for a door to unlock it.
When a door is unlocked, the corresponding door row in Playground will turn blue, the row will update with an Unlocked status, and the icon will display as unlocked for the duration of time the door is unlocked (typically 5 seconds).
The door will automatically lock and the row will become purple again with a Locked status and a locked icon.
💡 Remote unlocks are logged in Playground, so you always have a record of who opened which door and when.
Unlock Doors with the Check-in Kiosk
Playground's door lock integration allows you to set up Kiosks that will automatically unlock the door for families after they check their kid(s) in or out via PIN code. This also works for staff clocking in and out for the day. The Check-In Kiosk can be set up to unlock doors on both the mobile app and web.
💡 New to Kiosk mode? Read our Kiosk mode article before setting up a door connection.
🚨 Within Kiosk mode, doors will only unlock using PIN codes. Scanning the QR code will not unlock doors.
For Parents: Using the Check-In Kiosk to Unlock Doors
Parents will enter their individual PIN on the tablet in kiosk mode (your kiosk should look like the image below, and have the name of your door in the top right corner)
Select the child they are checking in or out
Tap the blue Sign for Students button
Sign to check their student in or out
Tap the blue Submit button
The connected door will unlock
For Staff: Using the Check-In Kiosk to Unlock Doors
Clocking In
Staff will enter their individual PIN on the tablet in kiosk mode
A success banner will show at the top of your kiosk, with the name of the staff member who has been clocked in.
The door will unlock
Clocking Out
Staff will enter their individual PIN on the tablet in kiosk mode
Tap the red button at the bottom of the screen that says Clock out New Staff
The door will unlock, and you should see a success banner at the top of your kiosk, with the name of the staff member who has been clocked out.
Playground Features by Use Case
When trying to understand what features will work best for you, ask yourself these questions:
How many doors are you connecting to Playground (1, 2, or 2+)
Are the doors internal or external-facing?
External-facing: an exterior entry point, like your main entrance.
Internal: a door inside the building, like the door leading to your classrooms, or lobby
How is this door primarily used?
Are families using the door to enter the building?
Are families checking students in before the door unlocks?
Is this a staff-only entrance?
Use Case | Playground Door Feature | Additional Recommended Features |
External-facing door used by families | Mobile app unlock | Geofencing, access hours, role-based access |
External-facing door used by staff | Mobile app unlock | Geofencing, access hours, role-based access |
Internal door with a check-in Kiosk | Kiosk unlock | None |
Internal door without attendance Note: This is feature must be toggled on by the Playground team. Contact us if you would like this enabled | Kiosk unlock without logging attendance | None |
Additional Recommended Features
These features are meant to enhance safety and security at your building. By enabling any of these features, you will have more granular control over who has access to connected doors, and who can attempt to unlock them.
Feature | What It Does |
Access hours | Set specific hours and days of the week when staff and families can unlock a door |
Access via roles | Grant door access to specific staff roles. Good if you want to restrict certain staff members from having access to doors via the mobile app (ie, your accountant). |
Geofencing | Require someone to be within a physical radius near the center before they can unlock a door |
Access logs | Review every unlock attempt for each door |
View Door Lock Logs
Door logs allow you to view who, when, and how each door was unlocked. Logs for each door can be viewed by following the steps below:
From your Admin Dashboard, navigate to Integrations.
Click View logs under the door you want to view.
You will then be able to view previous door unlocks for the selected door.
