www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
PlayEquipment AUG 2011 SPN
55 PLAY PAYS!
Roigk’s most famous product is the elephant slide called ‘Dumbi’
ome people call it ‘pester power’. Others just see it as how children influence their parents in terms of what to do and where to go. However you describe it, it’s a fact that children hold the vote when it comes to deciding where to go to have fun and excitement in the water. Leisure centre pools who fail to offer facilities for kids to play and cavort in the water will miss out and children and their parents vote with their feet and find somewhere which does offer the fun and games. Water is still a great natural playground and so the appeal of water slides, wave machines, mushroom showers, play structures, tipping buckets, pipe falls, water guns and water flumes is enormous and simple pool toys to more complex structures gives the chance to pool owners to provide entertainment in the water. This year the call for pool managers and
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Why do water toys increase the popularity of pools? The answer is simple: If children are happy, their parents feel at ease too. If swimming pools want to become more popular and drive up their attendance figures they have to complete and invest in water toys and rides if they are to hold and captivate children in a pool
By Alan Lewis
owners to invest in new attractions is huge. Local councils may be holding back investment but many pool managers fear that if they don’t keep on investing and hyping up swimming pools as places of fun and not just of exercise then attendances will drop.
There’s a constant challenge from water toy manufacturers to keep the themes as modern and thrilling as possible. So for example now some of the themes and games watched by millions in TV’s Wipe Out and Total Wipe Out are finding their way into swimming pools. With the increased pressure on parents to juggle the work/life balance better fuelled by press coverage on achieving a more active family lifestyle, parents are more likely to take the demands of their children more seriously to help achieve this balance. Choice of their local leisure centre being one such example.
For 2011, Hippo Leisure has carried out a major research project which looks in detail at the options open to parents and children when it comes to why and where they go swimming. The company plans to have the data ready for release at the Leisure Industry Week three day exhibitions in September. “The results already look fascinating,” says Claire Mollett from Hippo Leisure. “One of the clear findings is that parents are prepared to travel further to leisure centres which have more fun equipment.” Hippo Leisure has new 2011 products aimed at the 0 to 8 years old range where they know from experience there’s a real mixed ability when it comes to swimming. The new range is very much aimed at encouraging water play and confidence in the water.
“The more children play and have fun in water the more confident they will become when it comes to swimming lessons. For pool managers
ABOVE: Sliding for the 0-8 year old in a pirate themed, dual lane toddler slide from Hippo Leisure. Special features include, impact absorbing safety stairs and foam coated slide lane
RIGHT: Dimensions grew their water features in phases. Starting with a waterball, phase two saw Hippo Leisure add a span arm, a snake squirt and several interactive panels. The third commissioned phase includes a tipping bucket, splash board and dragon themed squirt
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