Daycares and churches serve as centralized community spots for families. Daycares are designed to foster children’s physical and cognitive development, providing them with opportunities to interact with one another while learning and playing together.
While daycares are frequented several days a week, churches are usually visited once or twice a week at most. Nonetheless, churches play a pivotal role in children’s upbringing. For families that attend weekly, children become part of the community. Many churches host sessions specifically for kids, either during the service or afterward, offering interactive lessons, creative activities, and storytelling.
In both daycares and churches, outdoor playgrounds can contribute to this interactive, growth-oriented development, helping children learn and grow through free play. From a cognitive standpoint, playgrounds encourage children to think critically and problem-solve. They are forced to make quick decisions, which can boost their cognition. From a social aspect, playgrounds at daycares and churches encourage kids to play with their peers. Some of these children they may know and be friendly with, and others may be new peers that they have just met.
All that said, many playgrounds at daycares and churches may not be the most well-maintained or updated. Here are a few ways that these community epicenters are transforming outdoor play with commercial equipment upgrades.

1. Inclusive Designs
If a daycare or church has a current playground, it may not be accessible to all children. Older or dated playgrounds weren’t necessarily built with inclusivity in mind. To address this, new playground equipment, such as sensory panels, accessible swings, and ramps, can be installed. Additionally, new surfacing such as synthetic turf, poured-in-place rubber, or rubber tiles is another option for a safe, sturdy ground material.
Inclusive playgrounds incorporate designs that are suitable for kids of various ability levels as well as adults or caregivers with various mobility challenges. A parent who is wheelchair-bound, for instance, can push their child on a swing set or roll over a ramp to watch them climb up a rope swing.
When building or remodeling a playground, be sure to keep the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance in mind. This ensures that routes, play components, and surfacing are safe and easily accessible for everyone. To comply with the ADA, a percentage of play elements may be within accessibility standards. Also, surfacing must meet specific requirements, and some elements of the park must be elevated. Check with the ADA ahead of time to make certain that your enhanced daycare or church playground will meet their needs.
2. Comfort and Shade
Playgrounds aren’t just for kids. Daycare or church administrators, counselors, parents, and guardians will also be at the playground to keep watch on the playing children. To keep everyone comfortable, shade structures can be installed to protect children and their observing guardians cool and protected too. Picnic tables and park benches in a shaded area can be welcome reprieves for onlooking adults, and give children a place to take a rest during their playtime.
Trees and other low-ground plants can provide natural protection and act as a guardrail or barrier between the playground and the resting area. Of course, large trees may not be in the designated playground area, and any plants require regular maintenance and upkeep. In these instances, consider adding large canopies or sun structures. They come in various sizes, colors, and designs to meet your exact needs.
3. Enhanced Safety
A primary concern for any church or daycare is safety. Playgrounds should be designed to keep kids as safe as possible. While accidental bumps and falls may occur, a playground should be designed with safety top of mind. That said, older playground equipment may be hazardous to little ones. Wooden walkways may wear out over time, leading to preventable falls. Screws and bolts may loosen and lead to cuts or scratches.
The best way to prevent these types of injuries is to regularly inspect the playground. Look for sharp edges and missing parts. Also, check the ground and the surrounding area for any dangers such as fallen branches. Be sure to replace anything with commercial equipment that needs to be updated. For instance, rusted swing sets should be replaced as soon as possible, as should tire swings if they are worn down.
4. Modernized Play
In some instances, the current equipment at a daycare or church may be safe, but it may just be outdated. New commercial playground equipment can further stimulate children. Adding new multi-level play structures, interactive climbing walls, and sensory experiences can enhance children’s play time. Incorporating this type of equipment can provide a more diverse play experience while also encouraging different types of play.
When looking at new commercial playground equipment, think about what you currently have that works and what needs to be updated or replaced. Perhaps you add another entire section with newer equipment, or maybe you build off of what is currently there. See what types of equipment are most popular with the children, and find newer versions to enhance their experience.
Tips and Takeaways
Daycares and churches play significant roles in children’s lives. During recess and breaks, playgrounds provide children the opportunity to learn and grow with their peers outside of the classroom or church hall. Upgrading equipment with commercial equipment can benefit children and the community as a whole for years to come.
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