Shaded Nation

A common use for our shade sail structures is to provide cover for children’s playgrounds at schools, nurseries and other locations.

With this in mind, we’ve decided to put together some blogs looking at the top things you should consider when designing a new play area for kids.

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What to consider when designing a children’s playground – part one

Safety
When creating a children’s playground the primary concern must always be the health and wellbeing of the youngsters and there are a few things to consider if you are going to provide a safe environment.

Take flooring for example – this needs to be soft and smooth to reduce the chances of children getting hurt should they fall. Specific playground surfaces made of either rubber or tiles can be purchased, while artificial grass is also a good, low-maintenance option.

Other things to think about safety wise include ensuring none of the playground equipment has sharp edges and that anything that requires climbing – such as slides – have the necessary rails in place to minimise the risk of children falling.

Shelter
Another way to secure the safety of a playground is by ensuring it is sheltered. On a summers day this will prevent kids from being at risk of sunburn and sunstroke, while it will also ensure metal playground equipment stays cool, as these items can become surprisingly hot when exposed to direct sunlight.

Shelter will keep the rain of the playground and this reduces the chances of the environment becoming slippery, which can easily lead to accidents. Furthermore, protection from the elements will mean playground equipment lasts longer and requires less maintenance.

Many schools opt for our shade structures as a means of providing this shelter due to their combination of high-level protection, durability and affordability. We supply post protectors, which can be used to ensure there is no risk of children hurting themselves by colliding with the steel posts used to support the shade.

You can see an example of how a shade sail structure can be used for a playground here.