🧸🎲 My First Retro Playground
Welcome to the toy-filled playground of retros! Let’s build, play, and learn together like curious kids, using our agile toolkit to create the best playtime ever.
Template Columns
🛹 New Toys to Try
Share exciting new actions, just like discovering fun toys to play with for the first time.
Base column: Start🚫 Broken Toys in the Bin
Tell us what’s no longer fun or useful, so we can clean up our playground for better playtime.
Base column: Stop🪁 Favorite Toys to Keep
Highlight the methods and practices we want to keep using, just like our favorite trusty toys.
Base column: ContinueAbout this template
My First Retro Playground is a playful, beginner-friendly retrospective that invites teams to share new ideas, clean up old habits, and celebrate what works, all using a fun toy playground metaphor.
When to use this template
Use this format with new or forming agile teams, or when your group needs a fresh, engaging way to reflect on their processes and practices. Ideal for teams looking to spark creativity and lower the barrier to honest feedback.
How to facilitate
Open with a warm welcome and explain the playground metaphor, encouraging everyone to approach the session with curiosity and creativity.
Briefly review the three columns: New Toys to Try (ideas to experiment with), Broken Toys in the Bin (practices to stop), and Favorite Toys to Keep (what’s working well).
Set a timebox and invite each team member to add notes to each column, reminding them to focus on both the fun and the functional aspects of team work.
Once all notes are added, read through them aloud as a group and ask clarifying questions to ensure everyone understands the suggestions.
Facilitate group discussion to identify patterns, celebrate 'favorite toys', and prioritize 'new toys' and items for the 'bin'.
Collaboratively select a small number of concrete actions to try for the next sprint or work cycle.
Wrap up by thanking everyone for playing along and encourage sharing how the playful tone influenced the discussion.
Pro Tips
Use light-hearted stories or toy analogies to help team members open up, especially if they're new to retrospectives.
Encourage everyone to write at least one note in each column to get a diversity of perspectives.
If the group gets stuck, ask what tools or routines felt most (or least) like 'play.'
Bring a small prop or virtual background that fits the playground theme to set the mood.
FAQ
What if people don't take the playground theme seriously?
Frame it as a tool to lower barriers and encourage honest feedback—the theme is meant to foster creativity and psychological safety, not to diminish the importance of the discussion.
How do I make sure we take action on 'New Toys to Try'?
Prioritize a small set of feasible ideas, assign ownership, and set clear follow-ups so that playfulness leads to real improvements.
Can this be used for more experienced teams?
Absolutely—the playful approach can spark fresh thinking for any team, especially if retros have become routine or stale.
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At a glance
- Duration
35–50 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective