How to make the perfect playground
A background on playgrounds and play equipment
A
children’s oasis is a playground. Playgrounds know no bars. Found
around the world, playgrounds are found in parks, school, beaches,
fast-food restaurants and backyards. Playgrounds are used by kids for
fun, exercise, creativity, learning and meeting friends. For parents
they’re used to take a moment of relaxation while their kids are busy
playing.
Playgrounds
come in all sorts of shapes, colors and sizes. But they’re all the same
in that they offer an area and equipment for children to play on. The
most basic and common of playground equipment is: a slide, swings,
ladders, elevated platforms, monkey bars, a jungle gym, teeter-totters
and sandboxes. More elaborate playgrounds have: rope ladders, a roller
slide, a tube slide, tire swings, playhouses, towers, interactive games
(such as tic-tac toe), zip slides, trapeze rings and merry-go-rounds.
There is also playground equipment for toddlers, that feature child
swings and some form of small slide that give toddlers a chance to play
too.
Most
playgrounds at parks and schools feature some sort of play surface.
Many put the entire playgrounds in large sandboxes while newer ones
have started using wood chips. Some use soft rubber mats, still others
are on concrete or grass. Playgrounds at businesses such as McDonalds
feature mats.
In
planning and building or buying a playground there are many factors to
consider. Residential playground sets are smaller than commercial ones.
Residential sets still have a variety of arrangements and offer
different equipment. Most have swings or a child swing, a slide, a
ladder and a playhouse. Playsets are made of either wood, plastic or
metal. Metal playsets are less expensive than wooden ones. The playing
surface must also be thought about. Most residential playsets are on
grass which is perfect because it is common, in nearly all cases
already present and it is a naturally soft turf for slide landings, etc.
The
age of the children is a factor in what equipment to buy. It is fact
that kids will age, but they won’t get younger. A child swing for
example isn’t appropriate for older children. Finding the right
equipment for the right age is critical not only for use today, but
also for tomorrow. It’s important to find and buy equipment that
children will enjoy and play on today as well as in the future. Not all
children like the same equipment, some like swings, others a slide and
still others prefer climbing equipment. The appearance can largely
determine the material and also the cost. Wood playsets are generally
nice looking than metal ones but this comes at a higher cost. Many
companies who sell playsets have additions that can be purchased over
time to expand the original playset.
A
good playground is a safe playground. Ensuring the safety of children
should be just as important as any other factor if not the most
important. Equipment that is too advanced or too large or too high is
not safe for younger children. An older steel jungle gyms can be
potentially dangerous to children. Recently these steel jungle gyms are
being replaced by rope ones to reduce and prevent injuries. A playset
without a proper safe area or border around it could be dangerous as
well. Leaving a 5 to 7 foot safe clear zone around the playset is a
good idea as well as a safety measure.
Whether
it’s for a school or playground or for a household playset the same
factors apply. The playground process doesn’t have to been painful, but
it should be planned and thought-through.
Rick Lorenzen is a writer for 10x Marketing. For more information about jungle gyms, slides and playsets visit www.Justoutdoortoys.co.uk.