Developmentally Appropriate Outdoor Play Equipment

Developmentally AppropriateOutdoor Play EquipmentWhen selecting playground equipment, it is important to consider the age range of the children who will beusing the playground. Children at different ages and stages of development have different needs andabilities. Playgrounds should be designed to stimulate children and encourage them to develop new skills,but should be in scale with their sizes, abilities and developmental levels. Consideration should also begiven to providing play equipment that is accessible to children with disabilities and encourages integrationwithin the playground. Here is a list of equipment for the outdoor play area.Examples of Age Appropriate Outdoor EquipmentAges 6 month to 23 months Ages 2-5 years Ages 5-12 yearsClimbing equipment under32” inches highSmall rampLow slideCrawl-through apparatusLarge ballsRiding toysLarge push/pull toysSingle file step laddersSwings with full bucket seatsSand with accessoriesClimber sized to the age ofchildrenHorizontal ladders less thanor equal to 60” high forages 4 and 5Merry-go-roundsRampsRung laddersSingle file step laddersBalance apparatusSwings with soft seatsRotating tire swingsOutdoor art and craftsWheeled or riding toysArch climbersLadders- horizontal, rung,and stepSlidesSpiral slides (can be morethan one 360 degree turn)Overhead ringsBalance apparatusOutdoor arts and craftsTrack ridesVertical sliding polesBalls, bean bags andFrisbeesIt is important for child care staff to check for broken equipment daily as well as checking for properly maintainedprotective surfacing. More detailed guidance can be found in the U. S. Consumer Product SafetyCommission’s Handbook for Public Playground Safety; Publication 325, November 2010. This helpful documentcan be found at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/325.pdfThis material is based on work supported by the Technology-Based Child Care Training Grant funded by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services withAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Children and Families. Use of this material is governed byU.S. Copyright laws. 8/2011

My Center’s OutdoorPlay Areas Equipment List ActivityDevelop a list of developmentally appropriate materials/equipment for 2distinct outdoor play areas: one for toddlers and one for preschoolers.ToddlersPreschoolers1. 1.2. 2.3. 3.4. 4.5. 5.6. 6.7. 7.8. 8.9. 9.10. 10.11. 11.12. 12. 13. 14.