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The "Calculator" is an outdoor interactive, educational element. Painted with numbers and mathematical symbols, kids can rotate the tires to create equations. You can also make a "word calculator" by painting the tires with letters.

In education systems the world over, "learning" happens inside the classroom and outdoor play is a frivolous activity of leisure. Particularly in the developing world, few teacher training programs emphasize the importance of play and prioritize a rigorous academic pedagogy, even for younger grade levels. Obviously education play elements, such as the "Calculator" create a bridge for teachers between the classroom and the outdoor world of play. These elements provide tools for teachers to integrate their curriculum goals into the play environment and inspire them to engage their students in interactive learning activities.

Follow the link to get the step-by-step instructions for building your own “Calculator." (Note: must create a free user account to see full instructions.)

Got an idea for a playground element? Join our community and submit your designs here. 

The "Ant" is an imaginative play element made from a series of half-buried tires. These creepy crawlers make an excellent addition to a playground. Be sure to bury the motorbike tires more than half way underground and pack the soil firmly to prevent them from being yanked out.

Follow the link to get the step-by-step instructions for building your own “Ant.”(Note: must create a free user account to see full instructions.)

Got an idea for a playground element?Join our community and submit your designs here.

In designing a balanced, stimulating playground, it is important to include elements of healthy risk.

"What the difference between a ‘good risk’ and a ‘bad hazard’?

First, lets clarify 2 key points,

1) We all take risks and we use our judgement to decide which risks are ok and which to avoid.(taking a bus is a risk most people are willing to take even though it is a risk).

2) No playground will ever be injury free, EVER.In fact, it is almost guarenteed that children will be injured during play. Bumps and scratches are a natural part of the learning process as children grow up and most people would agree that if we created a world where a child could never fall over that this would create other, worse consequences for the child. Children need challenges to grow and develop and they will experience some consequences along the way.

So, it is important to differentiate between:‘bad hazards’ i.e. those that offer no benefits to children and could cause serious harm. and ‘good risks’ –i.e. challenging activities that contain a percentage of acceptable risk to children. These activities often include challenging movement, or height."

–Playground Ideas Safety Manual, pg. 2

Experiencing "good risk" is an essential part of childhood development. It allows children the opportunity to think critically, build courage, resiliency, self-esteem, take responsibility, and understand cause and effect.

The "Spider Net Motorbike Tire" is one element that holds an aspect of "good risk." It is made from daisy-chained motorbike tires and can be built in different formations around existing structures.

To read more about "good risks" and "bad hazards" download our freePlayground Safety Manual.

Follow the link to get the step-by-step instructions for building your own “Spider Net Motorbike Tire."(Note: must create a free user account to see full instructions.)

Got an idea for a playground element?Join our community and submit your designs here.

Sandpits are one of the most valuable elements to include in a playground for young children. This tactile play experience is open ended in its structure, allowing the child to take the lead in play. Adding a sandpit to an education center for young children is one of the easiest, cheapest ways to add sensory play to their environment.

But a sandpit doesn't need to be simply a square of a circle. The "Sandpit Floral" is an arrangement design for structuring a sandpit. It could be used as a soft fall area beneath a slide, as shown below, or build on its own.

Follow the link to get the step-by-step instructions for building your own “Sandpit Floral.”(Note: must create a free user account to see full instructions.)

Got an idea for a playground element?Join our community and submit your designs here.