For daycares and preschools, an outdoor play area is a must. The benefits of play are well known and lauded. Outdoor play allows children to move freely, run, explore, be messy and learn. Playgrounds provide the opportunity to develop cognitive skills, motor skills, vestibular senses and overall body strength. Ultimately, play is essential.
Designing a playground that is supposed to guide children as they grow can be daunting. Which slide is right? Which swing set works for your group of children? Can all of the kids at the center play at once? These are just some of the questions that will be raised. Fortunately, putting together a playground that fits your budget, demographics, space and educational beliefs as a center is easier than you might think.
The process can be overwhelming at first, but by identifying a few factors, it can be made much easier. Before you start looking at playgrounds online, answer these questions for yourself:
We’ll break this down question by question to help you plan.
Space can be the largest limiting factor for playground design. One of the most overlooked factors is that you will typically have a use zone around each piece of equipment. A use zone is a space set around a piece of equipment that allows for children to have full freedom of movement and a safe area to fall in.
Try to figure out roughly how many children will be playing on the playground at once and then add a few extra based on how quickly your business has been growing. So if you’re growing by a student a class each year, it makes sense to add three to your number in a playground designed for one class to use it at once.
Playgrounds are designed for the following age groups:
If you are only going to have children between the ages of 6 - 23 months or 2 - 5 years old, you will need a playground designed for only 6 - 23 months and one for 2 - 5 years old. If you have an afterschool program, you might need a playground designed for 2 - 12 years old instead of merely 2 - 5 years old. While 2 - 5 year old children and 5 - 12 year olds need to play at different times for safety, the equipment can be used for both age groups.
Playgrounds are places where children can learn, play, socialize, develop skills and explore. There is so much equipment available on the market to accomplish these goals that entire playgrounds can be built around specific concepts. Here are a few suggestions:
At the end of the day, there will probably be a limit on the amount of money at your disposal. Be sure to check out our Grants and Stimulus guide for a list of funds available through various organizations. Or once you are ready to make a playground purchase, check into our Financing options to help make your playground a reality.
After considering all of those points, you should be able to start picking appropriate pieces for your playground.
If you have a small area, it is important to look for equipment that can maximize its use of space. Some of the best playground equipment for preschools with limited space:
If you have a variety of ability levels, look for equipment that children can use in new ways as they grow. Some examples are:
These are just a few ideas on what could be put in your playground. Ultimately, the best playground is where children can play, learn, socialize and have fun.
Find more about the author: Kim Hart
