Physical play is essential for a child’s growth and development. It keeps their heart and brain healthy, and prevents childhood obesity.
It’s also a great way for your kids to interact with others their age and build vital social skills that they can carry through the rest of their lives. Of course, playing outside is also lots of fun for children of all ages.
If you’re the proud headteacher of a school for young children, you might be looking for great ways to improve your school playground. There are lots of easy improvements that you can make to enhance your students’ play.
We’ve got a list of four top tips to help you build a better school playground for the children at your school.
Improve Your Surfaces
Every good playground must be safe and durable. The surfaces that you use for your outdoor area make a huge difference to the safety of your students and your budget.
Choosing a surface that is soft and shock-absorbent will reduce the risk of injuries. The material should also be durable and easy to maintain so that you don’t need to cut too far into your school’s budget to replace it every year.
There are plenty of great surfaces that are suitable for children’s playgrounds, including rubber, wood fiber, and artificial turf in Salt Lake City. Each of these options is cost-effective and safe for lots of outdoor fun. They’re also suitable for placing under large climbing equipment.
Add Greenery to the Playground
Play areas always look better with some plants and flowers. Greenery can brighten up the playground and make it look more inviting and cozy.
Try planting flowers by the climbing equipment, small shrubs around the sides of the play area, and maybe even some larger trees in the center of the playground.
If you want to turn it into a fun activity for your students, host an outdoor event where they can each plant their own flowers. Host monthly activities for the kids to look after the plants and keep them growing nicely.
Add Markings to the Floor
Many playground activities don’t require large climbing frames and equipment. All you need is some chalk or paint to create lots of fun outdoor games.
For example, create markings on the floor for the following outdoor games to make your playground more fun and enjoyable for the kids at your school:
- Hopscotch
- Tic-Tac-Toe
- Checkers
- Snakes and ladders
Getting a professional to come and paint your playground is inexpensive, but it can create years of fun for your current and future students.
Create a Space for Teachers and Parents
Teachers and parents need somewhere to sit and monitor the students as they play to ensure they are safe and secure. They need a place that is comfortable to sit in the playground area so that the children aren’t left unsupervised.
Consider creating a seating area that is sheltered and comfortable for teachers and parents to stay, away from the cold, wind, and rain, if they are monitoring the students outside.
