Whether it is a community park and a school playground area, or a large-scale children's activity center, a good playground not only lets children play, but also help kids and children to develop the sports skills, social skills, balance sense, and creativity by the different playground things and playground equipment names.
The modern playground park is already not a combination of a slide and a swing. These days, the playground equipment more emphasize the inclusivity, safety, sensory interaction, and all age groups experiences. To know different equipment names, types, apparatus, toys, and functions can help the operators, purchasers, and designers to planing the children activity space more efficiently.
The following are many angles, such as the traditional equipment, modern equipment, design terms, safety tips, site facilities, and so on. It systematically sorts out the common playground equipment names and terms.
Classic Playground Equipment
Many classics playground things are still the core of the children’s play park to these days, and only upgraded on the structure, safety, and materials.
1. Seesaw
The seesaw is one of the earliest playground things and is one of the most "cooperative attributes" traditional playground toys. It uses the simple lever principle to let two children sit at both ends, and achieve an up-and-down action by their body weight. Due to need both parties to work together, so the seesaw naturally has the feature of social interaction.
In many traditional park playgrounds, children can play the seesaw while chat, laugh, and even compete who can “jump higher”. and the seesaw can help kids to learn:
Cooperative awareness
Rhythm control
Body balance
Social interaction
Force coordination
Although the structure is simple, and it always is one of the most classic playground things.
2. Merry-Go-Round / Spinner
The Merry-Go-Round is one of the most classic playground equipment in spinner types and is one of the most exciting playground things in the older playground areas. Children can let the platforms quickly spin by pushing and pulling this device and enjoy the fun. The past traditional spinner is usually made of the metals, it is not as many safety limits as with modern equipment, so its speed is more fast and also easy to let kids feel the real “sense of weightlessness”.
The playground equipment of spinner types can help children to improve:
Balance ability
Vestibular balance
Spatial perception
Core force
Body coordination
Development of the vestibular system
It also is one of the areas with the most laughter in the traditional park playground.
3. Dome Climber
The spherical climbing frame is one of the most classic climbing apparatus and is one of the most representative climbing structures in the older park playgrounds. The overall apparatus is composed of a half-spherical structure, children can climb , hang , pass , and stand in different directions. Different from simple playground toys, this types of structure is more open and easier to inspire children’s curiosity.
Many kids will imagine it as:
A space base
A cave
A castle
A volcano
So it is not only a playground equipment, but also a kind of space of imagination games.
The type of the playground equipment have a clear help for:
Upper limb strength
A sense of space
Body coordination
4. Monkey Bars
The monkey bars are the most classic climbing playground equipment and the most challenging playground equipment in the climbing apparatus.
Children need hands to hang on the bar and keep to move forward through the arm strength. This type of playground apparatus is a kind of game and also a kind of “challenge” for many kids.
In past school playgrounds, the monkey bar is representing “courage” and “force”, many kids will work hard and train how to pass the entire set of monkey bars in one breath.
Curve monkey bars: The climbing path has changed
Ring-shaped climbing frame: Add a ring structure
Rope monkey bars: Mix the rope climbing
Three-dimensional climbing system: Multi-directional climbing apparatus
The monkey bars has a clear help for children’s development, including:
Upper limb strength
Grip strength
Coordinate ability
Endurance
Core stability
5. Hang Rings
The hand ring is a very classic playground equipment of climbing and upper limb training types, and it is common in school playgrounds and old park playground areas.
Children hold the hanging ring by hands, and move the body in turns in the air, swinging from a ring to the other ring. This kind of gameplay seems simple, but it has a high demand for children’s physical fitness and coordination, so it belongs to the “advanced challenge equipment” in the traditional playground things.
In the playground equipment names, the hang ring main help children to develop:
Upper limb strength and grip force
Body coordination and control abilities
Core stability
Sense of space and rhythm
6. Giant Stride
The giant stride is very typical physical training facility in the traditional playground equipment, and it is commonly seen in the early school playgrounds and community park playground areas.
It usually composed of a row of foot points with fixed and unequal heights or metal supports, children need to pass forward step by step, and depend on the leg strength and body control to finish moving. This kind of design emphasizes “step" and "sense of rhythm”, and it looks simple, but it has a high demand for the balance and coordination.
But it is one of gradually being eliminated playground equipment names, it has a high risk, so the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also is not recommended to use it.
7. Metal Slide
The metal slide also is one of the most classic playground slides, it used to see it in almost all parks and school playground areas.
The slide usually is made of metal plates or metal pipes, its structure is simple, sturdy, and durable. Children can climb it up and then quickly slide it down, so it is one of the most direct and exciting playground equipment.
Its main features include:
A fast sliding speed and a direct experience
Its structure is simple and durable
The common core equipment in early playgrounds
It is easy to get hot in the sun(the traditional feature)
The metal slide is the most typical playground toy in the childhood memories of many people, and it also is one of the most recognizable equipment in the traditional playground equipment names.
Modern Playground Equipment
The modern playground area usually is composed of many playground equipment names, including swings, slides, climbing apparatus, spinners, bouncing facilities, sensory interaction systems, and so on. These playground things can not only improve the fun, but also keeps upgrading in terms of safety, inclusivity, and education.
The idea of the modern design emphasize: The playground not only a play space, but also an important area to develop children’s physical development, social skills, and sensory experiences. So, the various playground equipment types gradually form a systematic sort.
1. Slide Types
The slide is a base device in the playgrounds, its core charm lies in a stimulating experience of a "quick slide down", and it is suitable for children using of different age groups.
The main types of the slides include:
Straight Slide
Its structure is simple, and the slope is mild or steep, so it is suitable for the basic experience and young children using.
Curved Slide
It add a sliding fun through the S-shaped or spiral structure, let the sliding process is more stimulating and diverse in change.
Tube Slide
It is a fully enclosed structure to enhance the security and mystery, and it is commonly seen in the large-scale combined playground facilities
Modular slide
It is used together with climbing frames or platforms, it needs to climb first and then slides down to enhance the sports challenging.
And the slide commonly as the core connection facility in the playground, it can links the different functional areas together.
2. Swing Types
The swing is one of the most classic and popular facilities in the playground. Through a swinging way in swinging back and forth, children can experience the speed change and sense of space, so it can train the balance ability and core force at the same time.
The common types of swings include:
Traditional Single-Person Swing
It is the most common type and it usually has a safety belt seat or a rubber seat cushion, so it is suitable for many children to use. Its structure is simple but the experience is stable, and it is one of the basis play equipment.
Bucket-Style Infant Swing
It is specifically designed for the young children, the seat is a closed structure that can effectively protect infants safety during the swinging process.
Multi-Person Combination Swing
It allow many children to play together at the same time, enhance the interactivity and collaboration, and it can also bring a stronger swinging experience.
Inclusive Swing Seat
It is designed for kids of different abilities and can supports a seat structure with a higher body support, then let more and more children join in the swing activities safely.
The swing equipment usually set on the playground entrance or the open area, it is one of the most attractive core equipment for children attentions.
3. Climbing Apparatus
The climbing equipment is mainly used for training children’s upper limb strength, coordination ability, and courage, so it is a device with a stronger challenge in the playground.
The common types of the climbing apparatus include:
Climbing Net Structure
It is composed of the ropes or metal meshes, and it is suitable for the climbing training with different angles.
Climbing Wall
It imitates a real rock climbing environment to offer the key point designs of different difficulty levels, so it is suitable for older children.
Dome Climbing Frame
A classic spherical structure and it is composed of the metal frames, so children can climb it from many directions.
Balanced and Rope-Combined Structure
Combining many elements such as passing bridges and swinging wooden boards ti improve the balance control ability.
The climbing apparatus usually is installed in the central area of the playground, and used for forming a visual focus and a challenge area.
4. Spring and Bounce Toys
This type of equipment emphasizes an “elastic sports experience”, through up-and-down actions to enhance fun, and help children to develop the rhythm sense and body control ability at the same time.
The main types of the spring include:
Spring Rocking Ride Equipment
It has diverse models, such as the animal or vehicle styling, children can experience the bouncing fun through swinging forward and backward.
Small Bouncing Platform
It is suitable for single or group jump usages and it can improve the leg strength and reaction ability.
Interactive Elastic Structure
An elastic platform combines the game elements, and it can be used for the team interaction or competition game.
This volume of equipment usually is small, but its fun is strong, and it is very suitable for sparsely setting in the play area.
5. Spinner Types
The spinner equipment can bring a strong dynamic experience through “rotation" or "spinning around an axis", and then it has a clear exercise effect for children’s balance sense and spatial perception ability.
The common types include:
Classic Spinner
Many player stand or sit together to spin on the platform, so it is emphasize the teamwork.
Single-Person Spinning Equipment
It is suitable for personal using, and its speed is controlled, enhance the body control ability.
Combined Spinner Structure
Mixing the sliding and spinning features to improve the gameplay variety.
Low-Speed Inclusive Spinner Platform
It is specifically designed for children of different abilities to safely ensure join in the experience.
The spinning equipment usually is complementary to swing and climbing area, and then enrich the flow line in the playground park.
6. Sensory Playground Things
The sensory facilities emphasize the multidimensional experience
The main forms include:
Sensory Interaction Panel
Inspire the visual and tactile experiences through knobs, sliding equipment, or color changes.
Interactive Music Equipment
Such as percussion instruments, soundboards, and others, these can let children experience the rhythm and sound when playing.
Tactile Exploration Facility
Combination of different materials(rough, smooth, soft, and so on) to help children to know different textures.
Immersive Gaming Channel
Such as a maze or a tunnel structure, these can improve the space perception and exploration interest.
The sensory devices usually are designed as an accessible format, let children of different abilities join in the activities.
7. Balance and Bridge Types
This type of equipment mainly used for training children’s balance ability, rhythm control, and lower limb coordination, and it usually is an important facility to connect different playground areas.
The common types include:
Balance Beam
It is a basic balancing training equipment, children need to walk along the narrow wooden or rubber surface, it can help to improve the focus and body control ability.
Swinging Bridge
It is composed of the ropes, wooden boards, or elastic structures, and it will has a light swing when walking, so it can enhance the challenging and fun.
Rope Trail
The route is composed of many hanging pedals, and it needs children to keep balancing when moving, so it is a higher challenging balance facility.
Modular Balance Challenge Zone
It combines the jumping, stepping, and balance together to form a continuous challenge path, so it is very suitable for the older children.
8. Tunnel Types
The tunnel equipment emphasize “passing experience”, it can enhance children’s space perception ability and exploration interest, and also is commonly used for the flow line design in the playground.
The common types include:
Linear Crawl Tunnel
It is the most basic tunnel structure, children need to pass it through crawling way.
Curved or Wavy Tunnel
Its inside path is not regular and can add a sense of exploration and fun.
Climbing Tunnel Combination Structure
It combines the climbing and passing, such as climbing from the top of the tunnel or entering from the side.
Transparent Observation Tunnel
It uses the translucent material. Let children observe the outdoor environment during the passing process and add the interactivity.
Site Amenities
A complete playground area not only needs many play devices, but also needs a complete area facility.
The common facilities:
Bench
Awning
Outdoor picnic table
Trash can
Bicycle rack
Drinking water facility
Navigation sign
Fence
Night lighting
Ground paving
Parents rest area
These facilities can decide the play park’s overall experience.
Playground Design Terms
1. Age Separation
The kids of different ages need to use different playground equipment.
The common zones:
Infant area: 2-5years old
Children’s area: 5-12 years old
Teenagers area
2. Composite Structure
Combine many apparatuses into a large playground system.
For example:
Slides
Climbing
Spinner
Bridge
Mixing as one.
3. Use Zones
It needs a security activity space around the equipment.
4. Exit Region
A safety buffer zone at the bottom of the slides.
5. Accessible Route
The wheel chair is easy to enter the playground area.
Themed Playground:
Pirate
Forest
Outer space
Ocean
Castle
Safety Terms
The safety is the most core standard of the playground equipment.
1. Fall Height: The highest fall distance of the device
2.Safety Surfacing include:
EPDM rubber
Artificial turf
Bits of wood
Rubber brick
3. Entanglement: The clothing or rope is stuck by the apparatus.
4. Head Entrapment: The children’s heads are stuck by the structure.
5. Capacity: The equipment allows the number of users at the same time.
6. Impact Area: A protective area when children fall.
7. Anti-Slip Surface: Reduce the slip risk on a rainy day.
Playground Industry Acronyms
In the process of design, production, purchase, and installation of children's play facilities, you maybe contact a large number of industry acronyms. These acronyms usually are related to safety standards, material specifications, accessibility design, testing and certification demands, and installation demands.
1. ASTM（American Society for Testing and Materials）
American Society for materials and testing.
This is one of the most common standards systems in the global playground equipment industry, is used for standardizing:
Playground area safety
Strength of materials
Fall protection
Device structural stability
Surface impact testing
2. CPSC（Consumer Product Safety Commission）
It mainly is responsible for:
Playground things safety guide
Children’s injury prevention
Fall risk control
Equipment hazard analysis
3. EN（European Norm）
In the industry of playground equipment:
EN 1176: European safety standards for playground equipment
EN 1177: Playground park ground cushioning standards
Mainly focus on:
Impact attenuation
Fall height
Surfacing materials
4. ISO（International Organization for Standardization）
It is related to:
Quality management
Production process
Material control
Factory certification
5. ADA（Americans with Disabilities Act）
It is important in modern inclusive playground.
It is related to:
wheelchair access
ramp slope
transfer platform
sensory play
inclusive spinner
Many playground area need to meet the ADA accessibility.
How to choose a suitable playground equipment
When choosing the playground equipment names and apparatus, you need to focus on considering:
1. Age group: Kids of different ages are suitable for different types.
2. Site area: Decide the size of playground structure.
3. Safety standards: Ensure the equipment meet the international standard.
4. Inclusive design: Let more and more children join in.
5. Theme style: A unified visual experience in the play park.
6. Maintenance cost: Reduce the long-term operating costs.
7. Usage flow: A high playground area needs a higher durability.
Use the Tongle and make your playground more successful
A successful playground area not only simply pile up slides, climbing equipment, and spinners, but also creates a really attractive space for children’s growth through scientific planning, interactive experiences, and safety design.
Tongle focuses on the design and manufacturing of the modern playground equipment, that can offer:
Customization playground solutions
Inclusive children's play equipment
Indoor and outdoor playground apparatus
Sensory playground systems
Rope climbing structures
Spinner and swing system
Theme park planning
Whether it is a school, a community park, commercial children's playground, or large-scale public playground area, you only rationally choose the playground things and equipment types, that can clearly improve children’s engagement and site value.
From the traditional seesaws to the modern sensory playgrounds, from the classics climbing apparatus to the inclusivity spinner, the play equipment are keeping to upgrade.
To know the common playground equipment names, playground things, apparatus, types, and design terms can not only help to plan the playground area more professionally, but also help the operators to create a children’s activities with more secure, more attractive, and more interactive.
A good playground is not only a play area for kids, but also an important growth environment for children’s learning, exploration, exercise, and social interaction.
FAQ
1. What is the usual service life of the playground equipment?
The high-quality playground equipment usually can be used for 10-20years.
The factors that affects service life include:
Material quality
Climate environment
Usage frequency
Maintenance levels
The steel structure and the rope net structure are usually more durable than the plastic toy.
2. Which type of playground surfacing is the safest?
Currently, the more common safe ground surfaces include:
EPDM rubber floor pad
Rubber particle paving
Engineering wood chips
Artificial turf
The EPDM is outstanding for the buffer performance and weather resistance, and is widely used for the modern playground areas.
3. Why does the modern playgrounds place higher focus on the sensory equipment?
Research shows that the sensory interaction playground things can help to:
Improve the focus
Promote social interaction
Develop motion
Enhance cognitive development
Especially, it is suitable for young kids and children with special needs.
4. What is easiest overlooked when buying the playground equipment?
Many purchasers are easy to overlook:
Usealine
Parental view
Drainage design
Sunlight direction
Space for later-stage maintenance
All of these will affect the long-term operational experience of the playground.
5. What is the usual needed area for a modern playground area?
A small community playground usually needs: 100㎡–300㎡
A medium-sized school or park playground needs: 300㎡–800㎡
A large-scale commercial playground or FEC: Over 1,000 ㎡
It usually is recommended: Each child must stay at least a 2.5㎡–4㎡ play space.
6. How to improve the repeat play rate of a playground?
It is recommended to add:
Multi-gameplay spinner
Interactive sensory device
Team-based apparatus
Themed climbing structures
A variable route design
This can let kids get a different experience each time in the play park.
7. What is the usual maintenance cycle for the playground equipment?
The common maintenance frequency in this industry:
Daily check: Every day
Basic maintenance: Every month
Deep security check: Every quarter
Structural retread: 5–8 years
The playground equipment names of high-frequency usage(such as slides and swings) usually have most wear-fast.
8. What is the average dwell time children spend on a playground park?
Different playground areas have big differences:
A community playground: 30–60 minutes
A commercial indoor playground: 1.5–3 hours
A large-scale themed playground park: 2–4 hours
The dwell time is longer which a playground has:
climbing system
sensory zone
spinner
obstacle course
9. Which the playground equipment is most popular in older children?
Usually includes:
High-altitude rope climbing
Ninja obstacle course
Large-scale tower slide
High-speed spinner
Parkour apparatus
These equipment more emphasize the challenging and sporty.
