5 Types of Playground Equipment

Playground equipment comes in various shapes, sizes and colors. Determine the age group of children visiting your playground, as it will affect the type of equipment and surfacing you choose.

Slides have remained popular since the playground’s inception, offering kids a small rush as they speed down toward the ground. A variety of options are available, including curved slides and spirals.

Swings

Most kids can’t resist the pull of a swing, and with proper design, these classic playground structures are a must-have for any park, school or commercial playground. Swings are a great way to improve upper body strength and build confidence, and they can help children feel like they’re flying.

A group swing allows multiple kids to swing together, encouraging social skills and cooperation. Likewise, a tetherball set helps children work together to control the ball’s trajectory around the pole.

As kids use the chain to grip the rings on a tetherball, they also practice fine motor skills, which can lead to better handwriting. Plus, the quiet swinging can provide stress relief for many kids, allowing them to relax while they play. When evaluating playground equipment, make sure that the use zone is large enough to allow for proper swinging distances and to avoid entanglement or entrapment.

Slides

Unlike flip flops, slides have a flat sole that supports the foot. They also have a wider base that allows the feet to breathe. They also offer a strong grip and are made of a durable material, so they’ll last longer than flip flops do.

Kids will love sliding down a slide, and there are many different styles available. Some slide designs allow multiple kids to play at once. Another playground classic is the seesaw (or teeter-totter). This equipment requires cooperation and can be a great place for friends to practice social skills, such as communication, listening and problem-solving.

Gaga ball pits are another popular addition to the modern playground. This active game helps kids build motor skills, balance and coordination. Kids can also learn about the environment and how to take care of nature by playing in natural-looking areas of the playground.

Climbers

Children are naturally curious about their surroundings and keen to explore – safe environments that encourage this exploration will build confidence. Climbers are an excellent way to do this, enabling children to build upper body strength as well as motor planning and finger/hand strength.

Most climbers require a support structure to grow up and over, either Playground Equipment in the form of wire, trellis or post. Some like ivy can grab right onto walls and trees, while others, such as Boston ivy and Virginia creeper need horizontal support in the form of a wall, trellis or fence to grow up over.

Some, such as passion flowers and morning glories have a tendency to grow large so will need a trellis to hold them. All will need some type of mulch, compost or slow-release fertiliser to help them get off to a good start in the season, plus plenty of water to ensure their root system stays moist.

Spring Riders

Playground spring riders are a classic playground component that kids love to rock, bounce and bob on. Often, they’re shaped like animals or vehicles to add more fun and engagement with your playground theme. Our selection of animal and vehicle shaped spring riders includes bouncy horses, fire trucks, race cars and dinosaurs.

Incorporating spring riders into your new or existing playground can promote healthy exercise and help children build important physical, emotional and mental skills. Imaginative play is one of the most important developmental activities that spring riders can encourage. Kids can pretend they’re pirates on a ship, sheriffs riding into battle or even taxi drivers in a busy city.

These bouncy pieces of playground equipment are typically installed on a soft material such as engineered wood fiber, rubber mulch or synthetic turf. They’re available in both in-ground and surface mount installation. In-ground mounted models are secured childrens indoor play equipment suppliers to concrete footings while surface mount is more common in playgrounds with loose fill surfacing.

Activity Panels

Often called “learning walls,” activity panels provide a sensory-rich, age-appropriate play experience to make playgrounds more appealing to kids of all ages and abilities. These interactive boards offer a variety of educational situations and toys that spark kids’ imaginations, social interaction, and cognitive growth.

These play experiences are especially helpful in developing children’s creative thinking and problem-solving skills. Kids can use these tools for independent play, or side-by-side with a friend. Themed panels like gears and mazes help children develop visual-motor coordination. Music-based panels like drums, chimes and xylophones encourage auditory development.

Vision plays a large role in how kids think and learn, so adding sensory elements like fiber optics, glow-in-the-dark stars and mini-mirrors can boost vision development. Alternatively, tactile panels featuring textures and surfaces to touch promote fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Maze panels also challenge kids’ problem-solving skills and foster cognitive growth.

Balance Beams

Ideal for ages two to five, balance beams encourage children to improve vestibular balance, movement coordination and concentration. These padded, flexible planks are lightweight enough for preschoolers to manage without requiring adult supervision.

The top surface of this adjustable balance beam features a dual-layered cushion with 1/4″ (6 mm) foam and neoprene rubber. The durable, suede-like, slip-resistant material gives the athlete traction and stability needed to perform any skill. The urethane spring maintains shock-absorbing properties through repeated impacts. This versatile, club-style balance beam adjusts to 50cm to 125cm heights to accommodate gymnasts of all ages and skills levels.

Before gluing your beam together, rub each wood piece down with a washcloth or sponge to remove dirt and grime. Afterward, fasten the angle holders (these come with screws) to the underside of each end of the beam using 4 wood screws per leg. Once the anchors are attached, apply wood glue liberally to both sides of each plank.