Play equipment isn’t just about climbing and sliding

When you think about play equipment, it’s tempting to just think about the obvious: climbing frames, slides, swings.

Whilst these are great fun, they’re certainly not the whole story. When designing or specifying a playground, there’s lots of things to think about to make sure all children can play in one way or another (age, ability, interests).

Some children love to sit and play with their friends, or find a place to let their imagination run wild. Slides, swings, towers and clubhouses can be a little daunting to some children, so it’s making sure every child has a place to play however they choose. One way of doing this is creating dens or mini playhouses (you can even include a picnic table and chairs in there too), and adding in activity panels creating interactive and immersive play time. 

When thinking about dens, it’s about finding that balance between letting the children play quietly with their friends, and not compromising on being able to keep an eye on them (we always recommend avoiding places where children can hide).

Activity panels are always a fun addition to a play area, Tic-Tac-Toe or games panels with moving parts like a shop front, or educational panels with maps, numbers, mazes can help keep children entertained. Musical panels are a firm favourite too.  But whichever ones you choose, they’ll all support children's development and imagination.

It can sometimes be tricky to get everything you’d like in a design, but through our collaborative approach, we’ll always design and install the very best play area possible. But the most important thing to remember when thinking about a play area is the children; catering for their ages and abilities.