Playground gives schools multiple layers of security to control who can access your building, data, and program.
Account Security (MFA)
Families and staff can enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on their Playground accounts to add an extra layer of protection. Once enabled, signing in requires both a password and a verification code sent by phone or email.
MFA helps prevent unauthorized access even if a password is compromised. Users can turn it on in their account settings at any time.
💡 Click here for more information on enabling MFA.
Door Lock Integrations
Schools using Kisi or Cielo365 can allow staff and guardians to unlock doors directly from the Playground mobile app. Admins control who can unlock each door and during which hours, with separate rules for staff and guardians.
A door access log automatically records who unlocked which door and when, giving you a complete audit trail for compliance and security purposes.
💡 Click here for more information on how to utilize Door Locks in Playground.
Geofence Restrictions
Geofencing lets admins draw a virtual boundary around the school and enforce location-based rules for both staff and guardians. The geofence boundary is typically set around your center's physical location using a map-based tool in your admin dashboard.
When a staff member or guardian attempts to perform a restricted action, Playground checks whether their mobile device is detected inside the geofenced area. If they're outside the boundary, the action is blocked.
What Geofencing Can Restrict
Once a geofence is set up, admins can apply location-based restrictions to the following actions:
Door unlocks — Require guardians and staff to be physically within the geofence before they can unlock a door from the mobile app. This prevents remote door access from outside the school premises.
Staff mobile app access — Restrict staff from using the Playground mobile app when they are clocked out or located outside the center's geofence. This helps ensure staff can only access sensitive student data and features while on-site.
Clock-in & clock-out — Limit staff clock-ins to when the device is detected within the geofenced area. This helps ensure accurate attendance records and prevents staff from clocking in before they arrive at the center.
How Admins Set Up Geofencing
Admins configure the geofence boundary and choose which restrictions to enforce from the security or location settings in your admin dashboard. The setup process includes:
Drawing the boundary — Using an interactive map, admins place a pin at the center's location and define the radius of the geofence (typically 50–200 meters).
Selecting restrictions — Admins choose which actions to restrict (door unlocks, clock-ins, mobile app access) and whether rules apply to staff, guardians, or both.
💡 For detailed step-by-step setup instructions, including screenshots and configuration examples, see the Set Up Geofencing article.
PIN Codes
Staff and students each have unique PINs used for check-in and check-out at your center. Schools using the Playground desktop app can sync guardian and staff PINs directly to a connected door keypad, allowing families and staff to enter the building using their PIN.
At sign-in kiosks, entering a valid PIN can also trigger an automatic door unlock if your door lock integration is configured for kiosk-based access.
💡 Click here for more information on Attendance.
Guardian Access Roles
Every guardian profile includes an access role that controls what that guardian can see and do in the Playground app. Common roles include:
Authorized Pickup — Full access to check in and check out the student, view billing, and communicate with staff.
Emergency Contact — Can view student information and receive notifications, but cannot perform check-ins or check-outs.
No Access — The guardian profile exists in the system (for billing or record-keeping), but the guardian has no app login or visibility.
Admins can edit guardian access roles at any time from the student's profile page. Changes take effect immediately.
💡 Click here for more information on managing Guardian Permissions.