Safe playground, how to equip it yourself – an expert
Outdoor play is the first association with summer vacations. Here’s how to make these games not only fun, but also safe.
If you are one of those lucky ones who can send a child to the summer cottage, or to the village to see his grandmother, or even just live in your own house, our advice will be especially useful to you. After all, I want the children to spend their holidays cheerfully and profitably. Therefore, it is important to provide them with comfortable conditions for outdoor activities and games. You can create a dream playground with your own hands right at your summer cottage. Tatiana Chabrova, an expert of the OBI hypermarket chain, told Wday.ru how to organize the space for outdoor games and choose the right and safe play furniture for children.
Looking for a place not under the sun
First you need to decide on the location of the future playground. It is better to choose a place away from dangerous objects such as a barbecue. Look for shaded areas that are not exposed to the sun all day. If this is not possible, be sure to put an awning or canopy.
“If you have a free flat area, then you are incredibly lucky. The playground can be arranged right on the lawn – this is an ideal cover for children’s entertainment. If not, you can level the surface and make it comfortable and safe with modular garden coverings. They are durable, support the weight of the play equipment and cushion the impact of a fall. These coatings are easy to install. In addition, there are many options for their design, ”advises Tatiana Chabrova.
Artificial grass can also be an alternative to natural lawn. It is sold in rolls, easy to fit, and most importantly, it is not afraid of the vagaries of the weather and does not fade in the sun.
The filling of the platform must be suitable for the child in age. For kids under two years old, plastic playhouses, slides and sandboxes are suitable. Pay attention to sandboxes with a lid that will protect the contents from wind, rain and excessive animal attention.
“Sand, by the way, is better to take cleaned – in hypermarkets for repairs and summer cottages, 20 kg packages are sold. It is very convenient and safe – there is no risk of bringing foreign objects and debris into the sandbox. And do not forget about a bucket, molds and a scoop, so that the baby does not get bored, ”continues our expert.
For children from three years old, not only plastic, but also wooden furniture, for example, a pine playhouse, is suitable. You can paint it with your child – turn it into a fun farm or a fairytale castle, hang boxes with flowers on the windows, and put a children’s table and chairs at the entrance. Add to this slide, ladders and swings and the perfect outdoor play area is ready.
When choosing play complexes, pay attention to their size and height. For children under 7 years old, experts consider safe structures not higher than 110 cm, and from 7 to 12 years old – up to 1,3 meters.
There are two things that can make your vacation at the dacha unforgettable. First, the trampoline is fun and rewarding entertainment for children of all ages. And for adults, because modern models for summer cottages can withstand loads of up to 150 kg. Trampoline jumping is also an excellent workout for all muscle groups, if you follow the safety precautions. When choosing, pay attention to the strength and stability of the structure. Better to stay on a model with a steel frame. It is desirable that all metal parts are galvanized to provide protection against moisture and corrosion. For safety, the trampoline must be equipped with a strong protective net. The portable trampoline should not be installed on hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt, only lawn or sand will do.
The second thing is the pool. It’s both fun and a great way to escape the heat. Toddlers will love splashing around in the inflatable pool, while older kids can use the frame to mount the model. Such structures are more durable, besides, such a pool does not have to be disassembled and assembled every season.
When children grow up from slides and sandboxes, the playground can be easily transformed into a sports one. The coating will already be ready for you, all that remains is to remove all unnecessary. The vacated space will become an excellent space for active team games that will be of interest to younger students: bouncers, hot potatoes, robber Cossacks, etc.
For teenagers, sports games are more suitable – football, volleyball, basketball. If the space on your site allows, you can easily equip a real football field. The site can be sown with a special lawn for sports games, all that remains is to put the gate.
Think about options that will be interesting to all family members. And most importantly, do not stand aside, but actively participate in the games of your children. Believe me, they will be happy if their parents spend more time with them and share their hobbies.