There is no stressing the importance of play to the overall development of children. Whether you’re just about setting up a school or already have one in place, you should know that investing in quality and safe playground equipment is one of the best decisions you can make. But how do you determine the suitable apparatus for your school’s playfield? Below are some factors you need to consider while thinking about the kinds of playground apparatus to purchase.
Available space
Playground equipment for schools come in diverse shapes and sizes. One of the very first things you have to consider is the amount of space available and what you wish to do with the space. With the widespread urbanization and an ever-increasing population density, most establishments have very little space to work with. If your school is one of those, you’ll probably be best served by equipment that maximizes the little space available; think chimes or Merry to Cycles. If, on the other hand, you have ample space to work with, you might opt for larger materials such as six bay swings. In any case, you’ll have to cut your coat according to your size.
In the event that you’re having trouble determining what would work best for the space you have, there are numerous consulting firms that can guide you on the best apparatus for your establishment.
Safety features
Asides the general element of durability, good playground equipment for schools should have special features that would ensure the safety of all the users. While examining safety features, you’ll have to ensure that the structures are fabricated to suit the age group that’ll make use of it. If a piece of equipment that’s made from metal is to be used by children, for example, the railing should be padded with foam so it doesn’t hurt the users.
Furthermore, playground equipment should have well-guarded edges that would prevent the kids from falling off. The material should also be strong enough to accommodate different weights and caregivers should ensure the kids do not overload the gear. Whatever you do, the safety of the users should be the foremost consideration when purchasing playfield equipment for your school.
Age group of users
The age group of the children in your school would also have a major influence on the kind of equipment you’ll purchase for your playfield. Are you running a day-care center for toddlers? Or does your school have age groups ranging from children to teens? Before purchasing any playing field tools, you should consider the age of the children that would make use of the equipment and ensure you’re getting the right products.
If your children are younger than the structures you’re purchasing, they may have trouble playing with them. And when they do, there could be serious safety concerns. In contrast, the children would rapidly lose interest if they are older than the playfield equipment you purchased. Needless to say, you would have to purchase a diverse range of structures for your playfield if you are running an establishment that caters for many age groups.
Your budget for playground equipment for schools
Just like every other purchase decision, your choice of playfield equipment would largely depend on how much you’re willing to spend. While some equipment could be pretty expensive, some others are relatively affordable. However, you should always look to get the best value for your money when you want to equip your school playground. The cheapest structures may be more costly in the long run.
To get the best value for your money, it’s important you view the purchase as an investment, rather than an expenditure. You’re investing greatly in the overall development of the children in your care, and consequently, in the reputation of your school. If you purchase low-quality equipment under the guise of working within your budget, you should be ready to replace it in no time at all. Bear in mind that the tools would be subjected to heavy use and the users would be at risk of accidents if it’s not durable enough.
Maintenance
Playground equipment for schools would require routine maintenance in order to ensure the continued safety of the users. You should consider the ease of maintaining any structures or sets of systems before making your purchase decision. Do you have local technicians that can maintain the furnishings around? Or you’ll have to call the manufacturers if there’s any fault. How easy can you get the replacement parts in the event that the equipment develops a fault? How frequently would you have to schedule the routine maintenance? And how much would each session cost?
If the answer to any of these questions is unfavorable, you should think twice before buying the equipment. You wouldn’t want to make a purchase and end up abandoning the equipment on the playground because maintaining it would cost a fortune.
Asides all the factors listed, your personal preferences, as well as the preferences of the parents and students (if they are old enough), would come into play when purchasing playing equipment for your school. Before you make a purchase decision, it is important to consider all these factors and harmonize them with the reason why you’re buying the apparatus in the first place. When you do that, you’ll be sure you’re purchasing playground equipment that the kids would enjoy playing on and would give you the best value for your money.
