How to Pick Good Playground Equipment

Playground equipment comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Choosing the best playground equipment for homes, parks, community centers, or schools could be challenging because there are too many types of playgrounds to choose from. But playgrounds are a vital part of a rising community. Kids can get the physical activity they need while playing at the playground.

We have come up with a guide to help you find the right playground equipment kids would love, and that would be within your budget. Once you have considered the critical factors, finding the right playground equipment would be an easy task.

Things to Consider

Playgrounds help the children inside your community stay active, grow and create memories that they will cherish for the rest of their lives. It is vital to pick a piece of exciting equipment that will keep the kids away from the screen and play outside. But you will also need to consider the budget, area, and the perfect balance between practicality and fun. It will help to list down everything you need to think about before buying the playground equipment.

Here is the list that we created to help you pick the right playground equipment.

Spot

The first thing you need to consider is where you are going to install the playground equipment and how much area you have, including the aerial space. Once you get the total area available for the playground, you would be able to pick playground equipment that will fit and have room for children to play safely and move freely.

Many manufacturers list down the equipment measurements and amount of area needed so that the kids can use the equipment safely. This can help you to determine if the equipment you're eyeing will fit in your space available.

Besides the total area, you would also need to consider how much exposure the playground spot gets. If the playground receives too much direct sunlight, you would want to refrain from buying bare metal equipment because it might increase burn injury. Choosing a shaded area is highly advisable.

Demand and Budget

The next thing you would need to do is know how much you can pay for a piece of playground equipment. You would need to ask yourself these questions:

• How many kids are going to use the playground?
• Does the location have drainage?
• Does the spot need too much sun? Are you going to install shade structures?
• Do you have a specific theme or colors?
• Who's going to install the equipment?

We all know that playground equipment itself can be costly, but you need to make sure that you set aside some budget for the following:

• Installation fee
• Shipping and Taxes
• Furnishings
• Drainage, surfacing, and borders
• Maintenance fees
• Signage

How Much Does It Cost?

Playground equipment prices vary between the manufacturers. Aside from the equipment itself, there would be extra costs for customized features and accessibility ramps. In general, if you are building. Playground from scratch, you would need to prepare around $1,000 per kid. For example, if the playground you are planning to build would accommodate 20 kids, expect yourself to spend $20,000.

Age Group

The age group of the children who will use the playground is an important thing to consider. You will need to choose the equipment appropriate for the children's age to avoid unwanted incidents. With the correct playground equipment, the children at your playground will not notice that they are working out and gathering new skills because they are having too much fun.

Here are some suggestions for equipment ideas for different age groups:

Toddlers

Toddlers are in the stage where they develop lots of new skills like balancing, climbing, and coordination skills. The right playground equipment for this age group should help develop fine motor skills. T

The following are examples of appropriate playground equipment for toddlers:

• Ramps
• Playhouses
• Spiral slides
• Tunnels
• Sensory activities
• Shaded areas to rest
• Swings with straps

Preschoolers

This age group has a lot of energy, and they need more adventurous activities. At this age, they are developing cognitive skills and social skills at a fast pace. Choosing equipment that allows them to share and play with other children is the main thing you should consider.

Here are some samples:

• Merry-go-rounds
• Balance beams
• Bridges and ramps
• Tire swings
• Tunnel slides

Elementary Kids

Kids in elementary schools are growing rapidly, but they have already developed different motor, social and cognitive skills. Keeping them busy is perfect for this age group. This is why we recommend the following equipment for kids in elementary school:

• Arch climbers
• Slides
• Overhead rings
• Seesaws
• Cable walks