With many schools entering the half-term holiday break, teachers and building managers may be considering whether they may need to install or remove playground markings either during the week-long break or during the longer Christmas holidays.
One major reason for the latter is that a set of markings may have been laid during the school holiday that turned out to be less suitable than expected and risks breaking the ROSPA code of good practice, as well as other golden rules for playgrounds.
Here are some of the most important rules and what a playground can do to help them.
Design For Manageable Risks
Safety is a critical aspect of playground design, and due to concerns about liability, most playgrounds and play areas will err on the side of caution when it comes to design.
However, at the same time, setting challenges and taking risks are huge parts of a child’s development, and establishing ways for children to test themselves, whilst also always having options to exit any situation where a child feels unsafe, is also key.
Design For Discovery
One of the biggest tools for play is imagination, and a well-designed playground will feature countless opportunities for both structured and unstructured play sessions.
Whilst a number square, sport courts, hopscotch and simple board games are important parts of any playground, a roadway, farm, or other areas to role play and spark the imagination are massively important to the development of young minds.
Ultimately, play should not be railroaded and based on linear experiences.
Design For Community
A great playground is one that everyone can use, and children seldom play the same way.
This is why themed zones based around different types of play are essential for both safety and community cohesion. Having one large marked system can lead to groups trying to mark their territory and potentially spark unnecessary conflicts.
