Preschool play experiences allow children (ages 2 to 5 years) to use their new-found motor skills in new and imaginative ways. They build confidence, strength and imagination all at the same time. But because they lack much of the upper-body strength of older children, they often get injured while playing on equipment that is too challenging for their physical abilities,
Because this group is fearless, they'll attempt to use any equipment they can find. Therefore, preschoolers should have their own play area and their own pay equipment to ensure they develop with a mixture of safe, dramatic and exercise play experiences.
With proper planning and attention to safety, age-appropriate climbers, ramps, slides, stairways, ladders and other play equipment help preschoolers build confidence, strength and imagination in a safe, supervised play environment. Installed with a maximum fall height of six feet, playground equipment from NPCG helps children ages 2 to 5 grow intellectually, emotionally, physically...and safely.
Age-appropriate equipment for children ages 5 to 12*
- arch climbers
- chair or cable walks
- free-standing climbing events with flexible parts
- fulcrum seesaws
- ladders (horizontal-, rung- and step-type)
- overhead rings
- merry-go-rounds
- ramps
- ring treks
- slides
- spiral slides with more than one 360-degree turn
- stairways
- swings (belt- ad rotating tire-type)
- track rides
- vertical sliding poles
* Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission "Playground Safety handbook" April 2008
