Choosing the right playground equipment for your space can make all the difference in giving kids a safe and fun place to play. Take some time to consider the purpose, age group, and budget for your playground before making a decision.
This will help you decide which types of equipment and surfacing are best for your space and community. Once you know what you need, finding the perfect solution is easy.
Age-Appropriate Equipment
Choosing the right playground equipment Murray UT for your space ensures kids have fun, advance intellectually, and stay physically active. It can also help to attract families with children of all ages to visit your playground.
Age-appropriate play elements include low climbing structures, crawl tunnels, activity panels, and small playhouses for make-believe and role-play. Other elements include:
- Common platforms with multiple access points, ramps, and low tables for sand, water, and manipulation of materials.
- Trike-paths.
- Flexible spring rockers (think colorful horses and cars).
- Covered sandboxes.
- Shorter slides that are typically no taller than 4 feet.
At 2 to 5 years old, kids become surer on their feet and more adept at gross and fine motor skills and balance. This makes them more able to handle more prominent elements and freeform types of play. They can also enjoy sports equipment, more complex slides, and higher fall heights.
Safety First
The right playground equipment is the key to keeping kids safe. Whether you are creating a school playground, a park, or an athletic field, it’s essential to prioritize safety first.
Start by ensuring that all playground equipment is free of protruding bolt ends, sharp points, and edges. Also, check that there are no openings in the kit (between bars, rungs, and ropes of cargo nets) that could entrap a child’s head.
Supervise children on the playground at all times, and let them know to keep their eyes on the equipment. This will prevent them from falling, hurting themselves, or getting lost and tripping on unsafe elements like rusted metal or broken concrete.
Consider Your Space
When choosing the right playground equipment for your space, you must consider all the factors that make your area unique. The playground surface, design, and equipment placement are all crucial to creating a safe space for kids.
It would help to consider where you’re building the playground and how much space is available. For instance, if you’re making in an area with many suns, you may want to add shade.
Lastly, consider how much traffic your playground will get. You’ll need a larger space to use your garden for a large group of children, such as a school or faith community.
Depending on the type of play space you’re designing, you should also consider the materials used to build the playground equipment. Plastic is a popular material choice for playgrounds, as it can reduce burn risks and requires minimal maintenance.
Let Your Kids Have a Say
Whether you’re choosing a specific piece of playground equipment or a full-blown playspace, don’t forget to let your kids have a say. Getting them involved early will help them grow into independent, thoughtful people who make the right choices for their own lives.
In addition, letting your kids have a voice in what’s on the playground can be a great way to teach them social skills like conflict resolution. Disagreements over sharing spaces, equipment, and time can be widespread on the green.
To avoid these issues, set up rules for navigating the playground that isn’t too rigid but still set clear boundaries. You can also consider making the practices accessible for children to understand and remember.