Playground Resources

When people reflect on their childhood, they often think of things like playing on the playground or running around at the park. Play equipment like monkey bars, slides, and swing sets provide hours of fun for children at schools and parks today just like these structures did in decades past. Playing on the playground teaches social skills and stimulates both the brain and body. Even adults can benefit from a trip to the playground: At a minimum, it provides a chance to socialize with other parents, but at some playgrounds, there's equipment suitable for adults, too, so parents can also get a workout and improve their health while the kids play.

However, these days, it seems like the power of play to help both bodies and minds grow is increasingly being ignored. Schools sometimes cut back on recess or eliminate it entirely in an effort to increase instructional time, despite the fact that recess provides a necessary break that can actually help kids focus better on their studies in the classroom. And safety concerns can sometimes prompt parents to keep their kids indoors, even though today's commercial play equipment is very safe and the play opportunities that these structures provide are crucial to a child's health and development.

If you need help ensuring that your children and the kids in your community have access to safe play spaces, check out the resources below. You'll find information on groups that promote the power of play, ways to prevent playground injuries, grant opportunities for playground construction, and lots of other great resources about the power of play.

Associations

• International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association
• National Recreation and Park Association
• National Playground Contractors Association
• Playworks: Making the Most of Recess

Safety

• Initial Playground Equipment Safety Inspection
• Keeping School Playgrounds Safe
• Public Playground Safety Handbook
• Playground Information: Environment Rating Scales
• Playground Safety Management System
• Playground Modifications and Prohibited Equipment
• Questions and Answers About Playground Safety
• Rethinking the Role of Play Equipment Standards

• Fall Prevention Tips for Children
• Playground Safety
• Playground Safety Fact Sheet
• Framework for Playground Safety
• Staying Safe on Playgrounds
• Handbook for Public Playground Safety
• Playground Safety Tips
• Ten Tips for Playground Safety
• Why Playground Safety Is Important
• Playground and Outdoor Play Safety
• Playground Safety Guide
• Keeping Children Safe on Playgrounds
• Playground Safety Facts
• Top Ten Playground Safety Questions
• Playground Safety

General Information

• Jane Addams: Advocate for Playgrounds
• Checklist for Planning and Evaluating a Playground
• Five Playground Activities to Boost Your Child's Development
• Seven Elements of Play
• The Importance of Play to Self-Esteem
• Getting Kids Outdoors and Away From Their Screens
• Making a Case for Play
• Standards for Outdoor Recreational Areas
• Universal Design: Playgrounds
• Creating Playgrounds for Early Childhood Facilities
• Do Older Adults Want Playgrounds?
• Ten Things Every Parent Should Know About Play
• Why Your Neighborhood Schools Might Not Have Playgrounds
• New Playgrounds on Military Bases
• Support for Open Playgrounds
• Organized Recreation in the USA
• Recess in Schools
• Schools and Recess: A Critical Part of the School Day
• Children's Perspectives on Public Playgrounds
• Are We Losing Ground?
• KaBOOM! Playground Equipment Grants
• Grants for Community Playgrounds and More
• Action for Healthy Kids Grant Program
• History of Playgrounds in Parks
• The Playground Movement
• Adding Risk to Playgrounds to Bolster Resilience
• Evolution of American Playgrounds
• Accessibility for Children's Spaces
• Why Playgrounds Are Needed
• Improving Access to Safe Play Environments
• A Study on Playground Accessibility Benefits
• Playgrounds Built for All Abilities
• The Potential of Safe, Secure, and Accessible Playgrounds
• Cities Designing Playgrounds for the Elderly

Written by: Ben Thompson