5 Must-Have Playground Equipment For Kids
Playground Equipment is used in playgrounds to develop kids’ balance, coordination and agility. It helps their instinctual desire to challenge themselves and learn.
Climbers offer a physical challenge that increases upper body strength and core muscle endurance. They can be free-standing or connected structures and range in difficulty from easy to difficult.
Climbers
Climbers allow children to exercise and burn energy, hone their motor skills and build strength. Burke offers a wide range of commercial playground climbers to meet the needs of any play space, from nature-themed climbing structures that can be used in fanciful parks to kids climbing walls and jungle gyms that can be incorporated into schools’ outdoor fitness spaces.
Climbing equipment challenges kids to use their creativity, balancing and dexterity to overcome obstacles. It also stimulates the senses through tactile play, bringing nature, material textures and sights and sounds to each child’s sensory systems. These sensory experiences help develop cognitive abilities and foster creative thinking.
When purchasing climbers, gardeners should be sure to purchase plants that will grow well in the area they are located. Nursery staff may be able to make recommendations, or gardeners can look for thriving plant specimens at local parks or other public areas. The type of trellis a gardener chooses to support their climbers will have an impact on how quickly the plant achieves its desired height.
Some plants, such as clematis, jasmine, bougainvillea and kiwi, can climb without any external bolstering. However, most rely on trellises, fences and other structures to guide their growth in a particular direction. These structures can be built by a contractor or constructed at home using wood stakes or twine.
Spring Riders
Few playground toys capture children’s imagination like spring playground set riders. Adding these standalone pieces to your play space gives kids a chance to climb on the back of animals, cars, trains and even bugs. Often designed to tie into your playground theme, these classics help kids develop coordination and strengthen their upper body muscles.
Incorporating playground equipment that develops children’s creative thinking skills helps them learn how to interact with others and make decisions that benefit the whole group. Imaginative play also teaches them about the world around them, whether they’re taking an expedition on a spaceship or diving deep into the ocean aboard the back of a sea creature.
A merry-go-round is a classic piece of playground equipment that kids of all ages love to enjoy. A popular option for schools, communities and parks, these structures promote cooperation between two friends or siblings and can help them improve their posture control, tactile sensitivity and balance.
The swaying motion of these structures helps children build core strength, and they can practice their balance as they move around the center of the circle. Some models are wheelchair accessible, and a few have safety harnesses to ensure all kids can enjoy the merry-go-round without sacrificing their safety.
Merry-Go-Rounds
Children of all ages love to play on merry-go-rounds. These spinning playground equipment offer kids a chance to practice balance, motor skills and coordination while promoting social interaction with other children. Additionally, merry-go-rounds can help develop vestibular system stimulation which impacts several corresponding sensorimotor and cognitive processes (Bredin, 2020).
While a lot of vintage equipment has been ripped out of parks in the name of safety, some old favorites remain. For example, merry-go-rounds and Witch’s Hats can still be found in some older playgrounds. But for safety reasons, most modern playgrounds don’t include them.
If you’re looking to design a playground, it’s important to consider age recommendations for the intended audience. If you’re building a playground for a daycare, for instance, it’s likely that the majority of users will be preschoolers. Your playground should therefore feature a variety of safe and fun activities that appeal to this age group, including swing sets with child seats and panels.
When planning a playground, you’ll also need to consider your budget and the availability of space on your property. It’s also a good idea to select a company with experience in designing and constructing playgrounds. Their experts will be able to provide valuable advice on the best components to include in your design. They can even suggest ways to save on cost by choosing cheaper or more durable equipment.
Seesaws
Seesaws, also known as teeter-totters, provide a great way for children to exercise and get rid of excess energy. They also help develop balance, social, and motor skills. Children can play on the same seesaw or in pairs, offsetting each other’s movements to rock the board up and down. Regardless of how many children use the equipment, it’s important to keep in mind safety rules for seesaws. Kids should never jump off the seesaw or stand beneath it while it’s in motion. They should also be taught to hold on tightly with both hands while using the seesaw and to avoid pushing off with one hand or leg.
Despite the popularity of multilevel playground structures, traditional metal seesaws continue to be a staple of playgrounds. While fulcrum seesaws have largely been playground set replaced in large cities with newer equipment, they are still popular with parents and children alike in smaller towns and communities.
Depending on the age of your children and the space available, you can choose between different seesaw styles. For example, a baby seesaw has a low seat and a U-shaped handle in the middle to help young children stay seated on it. A toddler seesaw has a higher seat and doesn’t have a handle in the middle. For older kids, you can also find spring centered seesaws that offer greater stability.
