Choosing the best playground equipment can be challenging. Especially when there is so much to choose from. There are many factors to consider, including quality, type of equipment and price. In this blog, we’re going to outline the factors to consider when choosing the best playground equipment. And give you our tips on how to make a decision you won’t regret!

 

Ask The Children

 

If may seem obvious, but asking the children is a great place to start. After all, they’re the ones who are going to be using the shiny new playground equipment! The best way to go about getting the children’s opinion is to give them choices. Otherwise, you’ll end up with some pretty out of this world suggestions like ‘a real rocket that can take me to space’. You’ve got to admire their wildly vivid imagination!

Give the children a number of playground equipment options with pictures and information about each piece of equipment. Ask them to choose the piece of playground equipment that they think they would most enjoy. And ask them to provide a reason.

Getting an idea of what the children want is a great idea as it allows you to narrow down your choices. It also ensures that you’re investing in something that is actually going to be enjoyed and appreciated.

 

Ask The Parents

 

Of course, asking the parents can’t hurt either! They know their children better than anyone. They know what their children prefer to play with at home and which types of play stimulate their children’s brains.

 

 

The easiest way to get feedback from parents is to send out a short survey. Ask the parents which type of playground equipment they think the school/nursery should invest in and why.

As well as helping you narrow down your choices, this demonstrates that the school or nursery values the opinions of the parents.

 

Choose Playground Equipment By Area Of Learning

 

Another great way to choose the best playground equipment for your school or nursery is to select the playground equipment based on the area of learning. This can be particularly beneficial if there is an area of learning that children are currently struggling with in the classroom.

Literacy And Numeracy

Literacy and numeracy are key subjects. They are studied through every stage of education. Maths and English are considered the most important subjects for any student of any ages.

It is essential that children get the best opportunities when they are beginning to develop their literacy and numeracy skills. Classic playground equipment such as a Pole Mounted Chalk Board is great for encouraging children to practice their numeracy and literacy skills.

Expressive Art And Design

From a young age, it’s possible to tell which children are going to excel in academic subjects and which children are going to flourish in creative projects. It’s important to nurture the skills and abilities of all children. Various types of playground equipment such as a Children’s Activity Table, allow children to express themselves and their art and design skills through play.

Physical Development

With childhood obesity at an all-time high in the UK, it is now more important than ever that children are encouraged to get active. Playground equipment that encourages physical development is a sure-fire way to get school and nursery children up and about. A Traverse Climbing Wall, for example, encourages children to exercise through play.

Communication And Language

The rise of technology in recent years is having a damaging effect on children’s development. Studies show that the relationship between children and technological devices is impacting children’s ability to develop communication skills, social skills and language skills.

 

This means that communication, language and social skills should be developed in other areas of a child’s life, such as their playtime at school. Playground equipment such as a Wooden Mud Kitchen or Safe Haven Wooden Teepee, provide children with the tools they need to develop their communication and language skills whilst nurturing their social skills.

 

Contact Us

 

If you are still struggling with choosing playground equipment for your school or nursery, we can help. At Discovering Days, we design and manufacture quality outdoor playground equipment made out of robust timber. Our outdoor playground equipment is designed to be fun and stimulating, and better yet, it’s competitively priced!

You can contact us here for more information or you can call us on 01282 416 755 to discuss any of our bespoke or ‘off the shelf’ wooden playground equipment for schools and nurseries alike.

Our staff are all fully trained in the design and manufacture of wooden play equipment for children and are experts in understanding what works best in the space you have. We have products suitable for Early Learning, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.