Playground Equipment for Schools

Modern playgrounds often have plastic equipment, as opposed to metal.

With childhood obesity on the rise, playgrounds are no longer just a place for kids to have fun, they are an effective way for them to exercise, get fit and have a good time doing it. With a host of equipment to choose from, children can climb, slide, swing and otherwise play their way to good health during recess, after school or on the weekend.

Swing Sets

Even adults can enjoy a few minutes on the swings.

A perennial favorite, children can spend hours on swings, moving back and forth while pumping with their legs to go higher and higher. There are various styles of swing, from basic models consisting of a rectangle of rubber held aloft by two chains suspending it from the metal framework to versions made from old truck tires. Swings for infants have a bucket design they can be securely placed into to prevent them falling out. Rope swings usually consist of nothing more than a single knotted cord.

Slides

Only one child at a time should use the slide.

Zooming down a slide can provide quite a rush for kids and no playground would be complete without one. Slides for small children are usually just a few feet high and may be made out of plastic, whereas slides for big kids can be significantly taller and may involve twists, turns and loops to make the experience more exciting. Some slides are tube shaped, which prevents children from falling over the side, while others are open.

Seesaw

For very small kids, adult supervision on the seesaw is a good idea.

Seesaws, also known as teeter-totters, have long been a common sight on playgrounds. Two children climb onto either end of a seesaw, grasp the attached handles and use their feet to lift themselves off of the ground while their partner descends and then repeat the motion so they go up and down over and over again. Only two kids at a time should be permitted to use a seesaw and children should be warned to be respectful of their partner by not suddenly dismounting so the other child comes crashing down.

Jungle Gym

Playing on the jungle gym can provide a good workout to children.

Many adults have memories of climbing to the top of a jungle gym as a kid and feeling like the king of the playground, something children still love to do today. Jungle gyms can take many shapes, from square to octagonal and are usually formed from metal bars fused together. Children can climb and play all over the structures, twisting and navigating their way around the bars. If concerned about a fall, prohibit children from climbing too high and make sure jungle gyms are located on a soft surface, like grass.

References

• Helen Devos Children's Hospital: Playground Safety
• Better Health Channel: Child Safety --- Playground Equipment
• KidsHealth: Playground Safety

Resources

• National Program for Playground Safety: Home Page