If you are having a playground built, you’ll want to make sure the playground equipment, playground surfacing and playground furnishings are well suited for the age of the kids who will use it. Toddlers have quite different play preferences and needs from pre-teens after all. Playground manufacturers typically make playgrounds for three age groups: 6 – 23 months, 2 – 5 years, and 5 – 10 years. So, how do these playgrounds really differ? Take a look.
PLAYGROUNDS FOR 6 – 23 MONTHS Children in this age group are usually referred to as “pre-toddlers.” Playgrounds designed for their needs need to meet specific guidelines set about by two different organizations: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). First of all, playgrounds for these very young children need to be designed to fit their tiny bodies. Seat heights are very low: 7 inches. Table heights are only 14 inches. Playsets for pre-toddlers tend to have a lot of mentally stimulating elements, such as knobs and spinners that turn. You may also see tactile elements, such as shapes with different textures. Flooring is usually rubber and soft to protect the knees and hands of crawling children. PLAYGROUNDS FOR 2 – 5 YEARS Children in this age group are usually called toddlers, and the CPSC and ASTM have guidelines for playgrounds for them, too. The equipment can be a little taller and higher. Seats are 10.5 inches tall, and tables are 20 inches tall. Playground equipment for toddlers is designed with the knowledge that these kids are more independent. You’ll see a lot of equipment that challenges kids to climb, balance, and pull themselves up. Surfaces and floors are still padded to reduce the chance of injury if a child falls. PLAYGROUNDS FOR 5 – 10 YEARS Kids in this age group are referred to as elementary students in the ASTM and CPSC guidelines. Equipment for them has seat heights of 16 inches and table heights of 25 inches. Playgrounds for elementary kids allow for more independence. This is where you see swings, classic slides, monkey bars, and more involved climbing walls. Elementary playgrounds are what many people picture when they hear the word “playground.” A playground built for the right age group will be safer and more enjoyable for the kids who use it! Always make sure you’re building for the right age range before you have a playground designed and installed. About Premier Park & Play Premier Park & Play is a family owned and operated playground equipment supplier for schools, parks, child care centers, apartments, campgrounds and more in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. Our products include playground equipment, playground surfacing, site furnishings, shelters and shades, outdoor sport and fitness equipment, spray park / splash pad /water play, outdoor musical instruments, dog parks, bleachers and more. Contact us at [email protected].
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Over the past several decades, playground equipment companies have increasingly focused on creating playgrounds for specific age groups. In fact, there are even several regulatory bodies with standards for age-appropriate playgrounds. Kids are better able to enjoy playgrounds built with their age in mind, but enjoyment is far from the only benefit of age-appropriate playgrounds. Here are three other key ways in which kids benefit from these more specialized playsets.
SAFETY Playgrounds designed with age in mind are much safer for kids in that particular age group. While a 10-year-old may be able to play very safely on a slide or a set of monkey bars, that same structure would not be very safe for a toddler. There are several ways in which playground manufacturers ensure safety for the target age group. The first is by sizing equipment appropriately. Seats on playgrounds for kids ages 6 – 23 months are a maximum of 7 inches tall, for instance. Playgrounds for younger age groups, such as day care and preschool playgrounds, are also made with soft and padded flooring to reduce the risk of injuries if a child should fall. For example, poured-in-place rubber playground surfacing is perfect for these early age kids. It comprises 2 layers – a cushioning layer with customizable thickness, and a decorative top layer that allows for creative freedom. PIP rubber surfacing also works best for ADA-accessible playgrounds designed to include children with disabilities. SENSORY STIMULATION Children have different mental and sensory stimulation needs as they grow. Age-appropriate playgrounds are designed with this in mind. Playgrounds for pre-toddlers use different textures to stimulate and develop the tactile senses. They also use a lot of bright colors. Playgrounds designed for toddlers tend to focus more on developing the sense of balance and coordination. You’ll see play structures with balance beams, steps, small swings, and the like. Elementary school playground equipment for kids between the ages of 5 and 10 are designed for more whole-body activity, bodily awareness, and strength building. This is where you see monkey bars, slides, and climbing structures. Outdoor musical instruments such as chimes, drums, xylophones and cow bells are perfectly tuned sound sculptures in different sizes and designs for children from toddlers to teenagers. They help develop a lifelong love for music and are often painted in bright colors to stimulate the senses of younger kids. BETTER EXERCISE Sensory development and exercise are closely related in older kids, but a bit more differentiated in younger kids. Playgrounds designed for pre-toddlers encourage movements like rolling and bouncing. Those designed for toddlers encourage more climbing and use of the large muscle groups. As described above, playgrounds designed for elementary school kids tend to engage the body more than the mind with more intense physical activities like swinging hand-over-hand. When you build age-appropriate playgrounds, you want to build playgrounds that are safer and more stimulating for the kids who use them. Playgrounds are a place for fun, but they can also be a place for learning and development if designed with those needs in mind. Are you planning to build a new playground for your school and wondering how you will pay for it? Fundraising may seem like the most daunting part of your playground project but it doesn’t have to be. These days there are many options from the time-honored bake sale to affiliate programs. Consider a mix of traditional fundraisers, partnerships with businesses and parks departments, as well as grants. Here are a few ideas:
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Premier Park and Play is a playground equipment supplier based in Newton, Massachusetts. Archives
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