5-12 Years Old
Children ages 5-12 seem unstoppable in their ability to learn and
do almost anything they put their minds to! Their athletic, creative
and social skills grow rapidly at this stage, as children begin to
participate in sports, make new friends and engage more with their
peers. Creating a recreation space that encourages imagination,
socialization and physical movement is important and should include
challenging equipment like climbers, spinners, fitness equipment,
as well as areas to socialize with friends. Browse our selection
of complex structures that challenge and engage school aged
kids for longer periods of time. We also offer site amenities to help
create spaces for outdoor learning and group activities.
When designing a playground site that’s meant to cater to children 5 to 12 years old, it’s important to consider this age range’s specific characteristics. The Handbook for Public Playground Safety states that these kids are distinctly different from preschoolers. Elementary grade children demonstrate an increasing interest in complex games with higher difficulties; they’ll seek to conquer bigger physical objects and start to socialize on the playground more frequently. At the same time, kids in this age spectrum can widely vary in regards to their body size, cognitive skills, and strength capability.
With this age range having some children just out of preschool (at the younger end) and others on the verge of entering junior high (at the older end), smart playground planning will incorporate an assortment of activity items. The site should have products that help youngsters test themselves while still acknowledging that some units will need to engage smaller children playing in the same area as stronger pre-teens. A sense of adventure can be provided to all kiddos in the 5 to 12 category by installing several pieces of equipment and carefully defining the site with transition spaces by way of borders or landscaping. Alternatively, you can purchase products that have multi-age functionality already built-in.
