Furnishing a school playground is harder than it might first appear. How are you going to make your playground appealing and different to all the others, without blowing your miniscule budget in the process? Kids love nothing better than spilling out of their classrooms and running off a little energy outside. Playtime is an important part of their education, and the more fun and practical you make the playground, the more time they are likely to spend in it. Here are our ideas for great ways to kit out a school playground:
Picnic Tables
When the sun is shining, why not let the kids sit outside to eat their packed lunches? They will love sitting around tables and chatting to each other. Invest in some good quality picnic tables that will last a good long time (remember they will take a lot of wear) and they will be used very regularly indeed. Put an umbrella up over the top of the picnic table so that the children are protected from direct sunlight (or the odd raindrop). You will only need a few, depending on the size of your school, and if you’re really lucky you may even be able to persuade local companies to donate a couple.
Climbing Frames
Every school playground needs a few climbing frames! They should be safe as well as fun so make sure you choose one that is robust and made from good quality ingredients. You will also need to organize a rubber safety floor for when they inevitably fall off it! Choose climbing systems with a variety of activities included – for example swings, slides, rope ladders and lots of steps to navigate. It needs to be regularly maintained and checked for safety hazards so make sure that a member of staff is in charge of making this happen.
Benches
Of course not all children want to race around a playground, scaling climbing frames and chasing each other. Some kids are calmer, and they prefer to sit on benches and have a chat with each other. Choose long benches that will fit a lot of kids on them, and arrange them in a circle so that it has a communal feel to it. And when the other kids need a break from the climbing frame, the benches are where they will head to chill out!
Line Painting
Every playground needs some line painting done – and if yours is in need of a touch up then get it done sooner rather than later. Lines can mark out courts for ball games, and you can also have other things drawn such as hopscotch or other games. The lines should be clear and straight and painted in a bright color such as yellow so that they can be seen.
Make your school’s playground the best in the area – it is an important part of a child’s education and it will do your school’s reputation good as well. A school that invests in its playground clearly understands the importance of play in a child’s education.
This post has been contributed by Mark Jacobs, who is a sales executive by profession. His grey cells spell creativity and fun. As an artist, he enjoys expressing his thoughts through his articles and paintings. Log on to www.publicsitefurniture.com for more information.