play &


activity today


New materials, new colours, technical innovation, natural play, loose parts play, more creative consultation and recognition at government level, all make a huge difference to play today say the API. As an interesting comparison, there is no change in the way children play naturally nor in the things they have always liked in play. Well researched, and even more easily observed, children like swinging, sliding, climbing, running, jumping, balancing and bouncing, make believe and imaginative play, building dens and hiding in houses.


The changes are in play


provision with enlightened agendas and government thinking behind new funding. Encouragingly,


recent


research for the DCSF into ‘Children and Parents’ Experiences of Recently Improved Play Areas’, finds people like new equipment and the balance of equipment. Extracts state: “Although these areas had been enhanced via funding from non- Pathfinder/Play Builder sources, the types of improvements made were similar to those which Play Pathfinder and Play Builder investments will fund. Parents mentioned the


improved appearance of play areas that had been regenerated. New equipment was seen as more aesthetically pleasing, more


modern


looking, and for some parents was associated with better safety than the equipment it had replaced. Parents and children were positive about


the recent improvements made to play areas: they felt they spent longer periods of time on the sites due to the increased variety and appeal. Local authorities reported higher numbers of users following improvements. The variety of high-quality equipment on sites was central to parents’ and children’s positive impressions and were the main reason why children wanted to visit. Local authorities stressed that consulting children and parents was vital in delivering a play site that met local users’ needs and expectations.”


ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY


The big shift is in the


interest in natural play and is one of the ten principles of the Play England’s Design for Play. New play area design thinking includes a sympathetic blending with and enhancing the existing environment, be it an urban streetscape, a public park or woodland dell. Designs may include ground mounding to change levels, planting to create interest and a different visual and sensual experience with pathways of different gravels, earth, grit and other materials to create variation.


PLAY AREAS A MATERIAL WORLD No longer just about steel and wood, today’s play equipment materials include the new and some very old. In use are stainless steel, mild steel, aluminium, rubber and modern plastics. Strong, smooth, colourful plastics sometimes in colour-sandwich


Contents


Your essential guide for Sports & Playground Equipment


In association with


Play just gets better


Pages 14 & 15 - News & products Pages 16 & 17 - Safety surfacing Pages 18 & 19 - Play project pages Page 20


- News & products


November/December 2009


with safety standards and pass annual safety inspections. Beyond that comes, agenda- focused thinking. This aims to provide not just what children enjoy but that which also contributes to their health, development and learning naturally through play. One example, to combat child obesity, is ‘hidden exercise’. where equipment causes stretching of muscles and calorie burning ‘work’. Playground design has become much more about the needs of the child rather than just what they like. Done well, play spaces cause children, teens, youths, adults and seniors to enjoy play and playful activity which benefits them without them realising it.


CONSULTATION


panels may have wonderful computer cut games and graphics. Their colours are resistant to fading in daylight and can be fire retardant. Rope that is really steel cable with a rope-like surface, and huge rocks hewn from stone millions of years old are all part of modern play areas. In addition to real wood there may be panels of synthetic wood. Some is harder wearing, better in the English weather, more vandal proof and can cost less. Use of


recycled materials grows as does recyclability of old equipment. This wonderful materials range is mixed and matched and offers huge choice.


EQUIPMENT DESIGN It is now ‘taken as read’ that local authority play providers must have equipment guaranteed to last some twenty years with minimum or no maintenance. It must be inclusive for children of all abilities, comply


Developments in consultation that engage communities at all levels continue to develop and are beneficially fuelled by mandatory requirements of Play England funding. Where once rare, consultation is now commonplace. From these engagements with children, families, residents, schools and stakeholders of every kind, can come an exchange which is able to richly inform the play design process. Interestingly, there is often a lag in public knowledge, experience and understanding of just what modern play areas and equipment can offer. Inevitably adults may base perceptions on their experience as children.


One of many useful outcomes of consultation is for the public and local authorities to engage with play designers who can explain the design ideas behind the play area and the natural and manufactured equipment.


New Children’s


commissioner Maggie Atkinson, the


former president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services is set to become the new children's commissioner for England. She will be leaving her position with Gateshead council on 31 January 2010 and will replace Sir Al Aynsley Green who has held the post since its inception in 2005.


Safer routes for Play


Local Authorities should


have more cohesion to offer children a safer healthier lifestyle through improved play access. A recent report published by Sustrans calls for an increase in collaboration between council departments to ensure better access to play spaces for children.


Sustrans Chief Executive Malcolm Shepherd said “there is a need to ensure children can walk and cycle and have traffic free play spaces”


Play time in


Aylesbury Thanks to £355,240 funding from the Department for Children, Schools, and Families Playbuilder Programme six play areas in Aylesbury have already been revamped and between now and March 2010 a further four are to be improved.


CLICK HERE TO REQUEST LITERATURE Enquire at: www.playat.co.uk/enquire


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