Three Things to Remember Before Installing Playground Equipment

If you plan to install playground equipment for kids, you must think beyond fun and games. There are many important aspects to cover during its planning. These include everything related to security of the kids and other liabilities for the community members. Here are three things that must be considered:

Safety Features of The Playground

Safety is the prime aspect to cover before installing playground equipment. When you install equipment then the elevated portion of the playground should be protected by the barriers. This will prevent the kids from falling off, thus averting the risk of any serious injury. No matter what the age of children playing, guard rails and barriers must be installed. Similarly, the swings should not be close together to avert any collision. A space of 24 inches is recommended in this case.

Choosing Age-Appropriate Equipment

Most of the injuries occur due to children playing on the inappropriate equipment. Every playground equipment is designed for a specific age group of children. These age groups are divided into three main categories:

1.    Equipment for ages 2 and under
2.    Age 2 to 5
3.    Ages 5 to 12

You must choose the right equipment according to the age of the children even if you have to pay more. This will prevent unnecessary injuries.

Avoid Wood Construction

There have been concerns about the use of wood in playground equipment. Though it has not been verified experimentally, there are concerns about the use of pressure treated wood in many structures including the playground equipment. These chemicals are considered toxic to the kids. So you must keep this in mind and avoid using any equipment that involves wood until you make sure that there are no harmful effects of it.

Best Tiles for Playground

Does probability of getting injured scare you when you take your kids to a playground? Do you often hear about playground injuries and you are unable to help it? A playground should be one of the safest public places where children could play worry-free, but unfortunately, the reality isn’t what it should be!
 
The manufacturers focus on installing the best preschool playground equipment and school playground equipment while making a playground structure, but they hardly focus on floors. In this post, I will talk about the five best playground tiles that should be, in fact, MUST BE spread in order to ensure kids’ safety.

1. Sterling Rubber Athletic Tiles

The standout feature of these tiles is the unbeatable price. Can you imagine getting a 2x2 title just in $23? Yes, you can get sterling rubber athletic at this price that makes around $.8/Square foot.

When I first came to know about the price, I got pretty certain it mustn’t be robust and long-lasting, but, guess what? I was amazed to realize I was totally wrong because the quality doesn’t get low with the lowered cost. They are strong enough to bear the heaviest equipment as they are tightly connected to ensure a simple yet closed interlocking system. 

Precaution

Despite the robustness, it is advisable not to use these tiles in a playground with tall equipment as they aren’t made to protect from falling. They should be used in the outdoor exercise areas.

2. Sterling Tiles

If falling injury is your biggest fear, then sterling tiles should be your first choice as they are designed for height falling protection. Greatmats has given them the first rating on fall height protection and it has also been given a rating of 10 ft height fall by the American Society for Testing Materials.

The reason why they provide ultra security is the highly engineered shock absorbers located inside. Furthermore, the thickness of these titles also contributes to the protection. What is more, they are vandal-resistant that doesn’t only make them tough, but also provide durability and safety.

3. Interlocking Tiles

Installing titles on a playground and then maintaining them, later on, are the toughest job to perform while playground manufacturing. You can simplify this task up to a great extent by using the interlocking tiles as they are made from recycled rubbers that make the task of connecting tiles hassle-free and as easy as a piece of cake. You won’t need any heavy equipment and expensive specialized contractors for installing these tiles.

4.  Roof Top Sterling Tiles

These tiles make an area multipurpose due to its versatile quality. If you are planning to utilize the playground for more than just playing, get sterling roof tiles without giving a second thought. They can be used on rooftops, patios, and even decks. Additional benefits include attractiveness due to the availability of different colors, safety (non-slip flooring), and a lifetime warranty.

I hope the above-mentioned choices will help you in making a safe playground. However, if you are looking forward to making a vibrant yet secure playground, then the rubber tile max day bright should be your choice. Are you ready to provide your kids with secure flooring so they can play safe?

Social Benefits of Outdoor Playing

Human beings have social needs. We all need family and friends to live a happy and healthy life. Just like adults, kids also have these needs and it is important to enhance their social skills at an early age to live a communal adulthood. Once again, outdoor playing helps in this area just like it aids in the physical and emotional growth of kids.

Playgrounds expose kids to experiences necessary for their physical, emotional, and social growth. Since I have talked enough about the first two aspects, I will be revealing how playing outdoor makes kids socially sound.

Why Kids Like Playing Outdoors?
It sure is difficult to motivate kids to play outside as they are magnetically attracted to digital screens, but once you take them, they love spending time outdoors. If you ask a kid why they like to play outdoors so much, one of the reasons they give is it gives them a chance to meet their friends and talk to them.

In the formal classroom settings, they have restrictions that inhibit their social growth, and same is the case at homes. They need to do homework, have lunch and dinner on time, prepare their bags and uniform for school the next day when they go home. Such robotic life doesn’t let them grow socially. Therefore, it is advisable to take your kids to a nearby playground for at least an hour regularly.

Playing in Group vs. Playing Alone

There may or may not be other kids in the playground when you take your children to play. The playground equipment and commercial playground equipment make a complex social network when kids play in groups. These tools teach them everyday lessons such as behaving in groups, waiting for their turns, interacting with peers, social norms, and most importantly, skills to build relationships. Furthermore, it makes them proficient in negotiations and teaches them self-control.

Now, you must be thinking playing alone is a waste, right? Well, that’s not true! Do not take your little ones back home if there are no kids in the playground to play with them. Many people think playing alone makes kids shy. On the contrary, it makes them independent and promotes imagination and creativity in them. Moreover, it removes boredom and improves their observation because they learn social cues by watching kids playing at a distance.

Inclusive Playing 

I won’t be wrong if I say inclusive playing is the second name for social playing. Inclusion is of great importance that children learn from inclusive playing. According to a research, children value the kids in their minds who play with them. The fruits of such social games are ripped later in the adulthood because children who had the exposure to outdoor playing become socially sound.

However, disabled children are unable to learn social skills most of the times because of surfacing or lack of inclusive equipment for them. Therefore, ensuring inclusive playground equipment for both disabled and non-disabled kids is one way to improve society.

Extending the Life of Your Outdoor Playground Equipment

Creative Systems Installed Structure

It’s no secret that playgrounds will be on every child’s to-do list once the summer vacations begin. And once school’s off, you can expect playgrounds and parks to be regularly occupied with children and their families. So, considering the sudden surge in attendance, what can you do to make sure that your outdoor playground equipment is functioning at peak reliability and performance? We’ve outlined a few steps that you can take to ensure better care of your play structures.

Schedule Monthly Maintenance

This one’s a no-brainer. Commercial playground equipment maintenance goes through a lot of wear and tear and before the whole things comes crumbling down, it’s important to fix and patch the little issues that prevail. Skipping on maintenance can not only prove costly in the long run, but can also be dangerous to use for the children.

Playground Maintenance by Creative Recreational Systems. inc, 

Know When to Replace

It’s vital to realize that certain playground equipment can’t be salvaged once their time is up. Knowing when to scrap the existing equipment and bringing in new is essential. Swing sets, merry go rounds and slides if damaged mechanically, need to be replaced completely. Repairs might get the job done temporarily but can prove to be a safety concern each time someone uses them.

Resurfacing the Grounds and Adding Shades

Foam Padding can add a layer of safety for children, but it is important to know when to have it replaced. If your playground is carpeted or has artificial grass, it can get incredibly hot to sit on. Adding shades is a great way of bringing your playground’s temperature down.

Armed with these key steps, you can almost be certain that your playground is not only set for the coming season, but for a much longer time.

Read More: Shade Structures in Playgrounds and Their Benefits

Must-To-Do Things with Your Kids This Summer

Summers bring so many opportunities to have fun. Sunny days and warm nights call for a lot of fun and physical exercise that not only allows for spending pent up energy but also helps in staying healthy. This is especially true for children. Their young minds and bodies need constant workout to function and grow properly. The best part about summers is the holidays. However, there is only so much time kids can spend on the commercial playground equipment before they get bored. Besides school playground equipment is always available so holidays should bring something different for them to enjoy and have fun with. So here are some exciting ideas for parents to plan this summer vacations and have a quality fun time with the little ones.

Have a Fishing Trip

This is not only an entertaining activity for summers but it is also a very important skill for the little ones to learn. Also if you get to catch a big fish, that is a celebration in itself. Take your kids out for a fishing trip to the nearest sight and have a picnic. Take some food materials like bread, ketchup and juices. Catch some fish and cook it on site to have a proper picnic and a day filled with smiles.
While you are planning for a fishing trip, you might also consider a trip to some beach. Make some sand castles and teach your little ones to swim near the shore. It will be an excellent way to beat the heat and to have some summer fun, all at once.

A Road Trip Would Be Great Too

Kids love to take trips. Even the fussiest of them get excited at the chance of seeing something new or playing at different commercial playground equipment. Spend some time looking for the places nearby or in the outskirts of the city where you live and plan a weekend away from home enjoying the scenery or the attractions in the area. Pack an extra pair of clothes and teach the kids usefulness of travelling light.

Chase an Ice Cream Truck

The number of cafés and ice cream parlors these days is too high to leave ice cream as much fun as it used to be. Children’s love for ice cream hasn’t reduced though. To add some extra dose of fun in the ice cream, keep an ear out for the sound of the ice cream truck and next time it is in your neighborhood, get out of the home and chase it with your kids. Get them their favorite flavors and enjoy it on the walk back home on a sunny afternoon.

An equally delicious alternative to chasing a truck would be to make some ice cream at home. Download a recipe from internet or ask grandma for her expert opinion. Make your own ice cream and home and allow kids to enjoy as much as they want as a summer holidays treat.

Have a Camping Night Out

Nothing would beat the experience of a camping trip. The entire process of packing bags and tents, to erecting those tents in sand or soil and spending the night out is entertaining and educational. However, if it is difficult to go someplace out of home, your backyard would be an equally good place to start. Prepare some barbeque in your own backyard and sleep in a tent outside. Tell your kids stories under the stars or do some star gazing for a memorable summer night.

Plant a Garden or Paint Rocks

Summers allow for some fun outdoor time. While it may be difficult to enjoy outdoors under the scorching sun, the early mornings and evenings are great to spend out of home. This summer season plant a garden in your backyard or in your front lawn. If you have more than one kid, then get different plants or different colors for flower plants. Each child gets to take care of one plant and then compete on whose plants gives most flowers and looks the best.

Alternatively, bring some rocks for your lawn and get the little ones to paint them as they please. Allow them to put their creativity and love for colors to use and get a delightful addition to your house.

Playgrounds or Playscapes

Children these days don’t seem to be fettered by the lack of outdoor play they get and this is a cause for concern. Virtual play has taken place of physical and outdoor play and the big pile of homework every child gets these days, doesn’t help a bit either. So in a world where we need to make going out and playing fun again, are normal playgrounds sufficient as an answer or do we need a dose of creativity?

I think adults could do with a change and introduce the idea of playscapes on a more prevalent manner. Now most of you would be wondering what the difference is between a playground and a playscape – but the two are quite the polar opposites in terms of outlook and aesthetics. A playground, in essence, is an area that houses outdoor playground equipment for children to play on. Swing sets, slides and hanging bars make up the entertainment aspect of a playground as children gather to have a good time. Playscapes incorporate nature and the aspects of a traditional playground to create a diverse area of play.

Nowadays, you see playgrounds in almost every neighborhood and almost everyone them features the same repeated themes. You can see the same types of play-structures in each playground that you visit, only colored differently, and that creates a general bland look and feel to the area. This feeling is picked up by children very quickly, and as they demand more from outdoor play, it doesn’t provide to be sufficient enough. Playscapes can help with this problem. By incorporating nature and play, you’re making a diverse environment for children to play in. Using big rocks, logs, plants and trees can help children become accustom to coming into contact with newer things and even species! And including trails, tunnels and other natural hideouts can help children use their imaginations to the full, opening doors to better playing opportunities.

Although we are big fans of playgrounds, but playscapes have won us over, especially when you consider the latter replacing an old and boring play area. So if you want to spice things up in your playground or are looking to build a commercial playscape, you can head on down to the Creative Recreational Systems Inc. website to get hold of some truly fantastic commercial playground equipment. Their site is inundated with the best playground equipment available in markets today, and all of them guarantee your children to have the best playing time of their lives!

Staying Fit at Playgrounds

Playgrounds are conceived as areas where all you do is run around or climb up on some outdoor

playground equipment the entire day but that’s not their only purpose. What many people don’t realize is that playgrounds can be used as an effective substitute for the gym. Surprised? Well, it’s true. Not all playgrounds feature gym equipments in them but most do, and since the trend for general fitness has caught on, you’re more likely to find them in your locality now more than ever. And the benefits of such an environment are endless!

First of all, the obvious advantage would be the fitness boost you’d get here. Most of the equipment in parks and playgrounds are uncomplicated and very simple pieces but are almost just as effective as going to the gym would be. This is especially true if you’re not an existing member of a gym and would like to get your fitness back on track. The fitness equipment at playgrounds help you take the first step and ensure you keep up on your progress on a daily basis.

Another positive of such a setting is the time saving element. If you lead a busy life and have to manage between work and family, it can be very hard to squeeze a few hours to actually drive to your nearest gym and workout. Not to mention the constant risk of injury - this would hamper not only your gym schedule, but work days too.

The last, and perhaps the best advantage of working out outdoors in playgrounds, is that it doesn’t cost a penny! Local playgrounds and parks are normally free to use, even for an extended period of time so you’ll be getting your health on track, without worrying of it affecting your budget. Plus, they’re definitely better than the hundreds of dollars you’d pay on gym membership fees and other costs.

So the next time you head out to the playground with your children, don’t hang around the commercial playground equipment area and spend some time working out in the fitness section too. It’s time we all paid attention to our health and fitness and this is the best and easiest way to do so. And if your neighborhood playground doesn’t feature gym equipment for playgrounds, check out the Creative Recreational Systems Inc. website. Their catalogs are filled with some of the best and sturdiest outdoor gym equipment along with the greatest outdoor playground equipment. So find one that suits you best today!

Till the next time.

Designing Your New Playground? Consider This

To a child, playgrounds are an enchanting region where both, their bodies and their minds, are free to run and explore. They have long served as a gathering place for children and adults alike of a local community and make for a refreshing and small retreat from the everyday routines.
But a lot of planning goes into creating a playground and there are several things to consider before you begin with the construction of your new playground.

Location

When searching for the right playground location, do consider and realize that every child has its own playground requirements. Playgrounds, situated in the middle of a community promise better attendance as more children and families will have access to a nearby and central location. Ideally, you should be able to accommodate children who play actively and children who play quietly. To accomplish this you will need separate play areas and do keep special boundaries and spaces in mind for parking and restrooms. You should also consider how and where you’re going to install the commercial playground equipment.

Efficient Design

Your playground design should allow for efficient movement throughout the park. The different trails, paths, entrances and exits should allow for all visitors to smoothly move into and throughout the park without confusion or overcrowding. An efficient and clean design will allow all visitors to enjoy the playground and its facilities regardless of disabilities or age. Your plan should also include easy access for emergency and maintenance personnel and vehicles. We recommend you hire a professional community architect to help you with the perfect design and layout.

Safety

Safety should be high up the list of priorities when designing a playground. Your final design should be constructed with the appropriate amount of space to guarantee that each piece of equipment can be used safely. One of the most effective ways to design a safe playground is to divide the park into different areas or zones. That way, during an emergency procedure, additional and needless problems and hazards can be avoided.

Easy Monitoring

When children are playing, they move around a lot. A good playground should feature clear lines of sight. This will allow parents and guardians to monitor their children at play. Ideally, a caregiver should be able to maintain a visual on their child throughout the activity.

If you’d like to build your own playground and are looking for church playground equipment to install, check out the Creative Systems’ site. Their catalogue is enormous!

Commercial Playground Equipment – Why are they necessary?

In today’s time, the play has become a forgotten fad of sorts. Children, no matter what their ages, are more inclined to be glued to iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations to an extent that you tend to forget what ever happened to the good old days. We would see children hanging out at playgrounds with their friends (some even quite literally on monkey bars) and having a fun time playing out in the open. Now, though, you see herds of children, exchanging video games and going over to each other’s houses to play for hours on end.

I have nothing against video games and feel they do bring an element of learning and cognitive development in children, but I am against the constant use and playing with them. Physical play shouldn’t be ignored. I remember the times when my friends and I would be on outdoor playground equipment all day and it was fun – more fun than what I imagine children today have. And I think that’s exactly what we need again.

These days, finding suitable playgrounds is tough and one that appeals to your children even harder. As a result, we decided on getting together with the locals in our community and raising enough money to buy commercial playground equipment for our local playground. Once barren, it is now sprouting with children on a daily basis, and with the summer vacations in full swing, we’re seeing other children from different blocks coming too.

Playground Equipment, and one that’s actually fun and of decent quality, goes a long way in providing hours of fun for children. No matter what their ages, every generation seems to have a great time with the ones we have installed. We even see some adults have a go at the swings too from time to time and it’s just a brilliant experience altogether.

So is your local park/playground boring and not attractive to kids? Or are your kids constantly in front of television and tablet PC screens? Then you need to encourage them to get out more. And while you encourage, make sure they have the right resources to actually enjoy themselves while outside. And if your playground lacks the resources and equipment and you’re looking to renovate existing playground equipment or buy new ones for your locality or house, visit the Creative Systems’ website and browse through their extensive catalogue.

Till the next time, happy playing!