A playground is a piece of land that is set aside for children's
play activities. Most playgrounds are equipped with recreational
facilities such as sandboxes, jungle gyms, swings and slides.
These items, collectively known as playground equipment, are usually
made of wood, plastic or steel, with surfaces designed for safety.
Children enjoy playing with different play equipment at different ages,
and a wide variety of commercial and residential playground equipment
is available for children of all ages. Plan a home playground
to meet the changing needs of your children as they grow.
For children age 2 and under, different textures and color contrasts
can stimulate their senses. At this age, kids like to crawl
or are learning to walk, so consider areas for them to crawl as well
as handles and small ramps to complement their mobility skills.
Children age 2 to 5 like to crawl through tunnels, play in sandboxes,
slide down small slides, play in playhouses, swing on swings, and ride
on tricycles. Most playground equipment for children in this age
group sits close to the ground to reduce the danger from falls.
For children of ages 5 to 12, a wider variety of play equipment is
appropriate, including horizontal bars and ladders, merry-go-rounds,
monkey bars, see-saws, gym rings, sliding poles, and climbing walls.
Playground-Playsets.com features a directory of children's playground
equipment suppliers and playground safety and design resources.
Many play items can be obtained online or from home centers, toy stores,
or directly from manufacturers. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's
instructions when installing playground equipment and accessories.
The International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association
provides product certification services for public play equipment in the
USA and Canada, and for public play surfacing materials in the USA. www.IPEMA.org
The KaBOOM! vision is a great place to play within walking
distance of every child in America. The KaBOOM! mission is to
create great playspaces through the participation and leadership of
communities. www.KaBOOM.org
Related Child Play Sites
Swing Sets - outdoor swings and play sets for children.