The Family Playground retrospective encourages teams to celebrate successes, openly discuss challenges, and collaboratively propose improvements using a playful family theme.

When to use this template

Use this retrospective after a sprint when you want to nurture team spirit, promote open vulnerability, and frame learnings in a relatable, supportive way.

How to facilitate

Start with a lighthearted introduction, setting the tone by inviting everyone to reflect as a family unit focused on learning and growth.

Remind the team of the column themes and encourage sharing real examples, starting first with Shared Joys to build positive energy.

Move to Little Tantrums; invite participants to surface uncomfortable moments or small frustrations, ensuring a judgement-free environment.

Discuss Family Improvements, collecting ideas on routines, processes, or agreements to strengthen teamwork moving forward.

Cluster similar notes together in each column and invite short discussions to uncover patterns or themes.

Collaboratively identify and agree on 1–2 concrete actions that the whole team can experiment with in the next sprint.

Finish with a round of appreciations or a group reflection on the family metaphor and its impact on your team's trust and cohesion.

Pro Tips

Use visuals or playful language to reinforce the family playground theme and keep energy high.

Encourage quieter team members to share by relating topics to familiar family scenarios.

If a topic gets delicate, reaffirm psychological safety and redirect towards learning rather than blame.

FAQ

What if some team members dislike the family playground metaphor?

Acknowledge their feedback and invite them to interpret the metaphor in their own way, focusing on the shared goals of trust and collaboration.

How do we handle sensitive issues shared in 'Little Tantrums'?

Thank team members for their courage, keep the discussion solutions-focused, and offer support outside the session if deeper issues arise.

What if participants only focus on positives or negatives?

Gently steer the discussion towards balance by inviting everyone to add to underrepresented columns.

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At a glance

Duration
40–55 min
Team Size
4-10 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

👨‍👩‍👧 Family Playground

Welcome to the Family Playground! Let’s reflect on our sprint as a family: celebrate our teamwork wins, learn from the toddler tumbles, and make our project household run even smoother next time.

Template Columns

🧸 Shared Joys

👶 Little Tantrums

🏗️ Family Improvements

About this template