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The “Cubby Tire Nursery” is a great climbing/den structure for young kids. It’s nearly entirely tire, so it’s a great alternative to wooden cubbies in areas where termites are a problem. Follow the link to get the step-by-step instructions for building your own "Cubby Tire Nursery.” (Must create user account to see full instructions.) Got […]

We first developed (what we believe was) the world’s first brick-and-floor-tile slide for a toddler daycare in Uganda. Check out this little video of how this slide came to be. We love this tile version of the classic slide – it’s relative cheap to build and rock solid. Unlike the traditional steel version of the […]

The easy-peasy “Bridge Simple Tire” is a basic, sturdy way to create a bridge structure to connect two elements.  East African Playgrounds – Uganda Follow the link to get the step-by-step instructions for building your own "Bridge Simple Tire.”   (Must create user account to see full instructions.) Got an idea for a playground element? Join our […]

“Matatu” is the Swahili term for the minibuses that transport people all over East Africa. The “Matatu Tu” is an brick version of the “Matatu” playground element. We first built the “Matatu Tu” at a primary school in Nairobi, Kenya. Playground Ideas, Kenya   Our Global Play Alliance partner, East African Playgrounds built the “Matatu […]

The "Aeroplane" element was first designed for a primary school in Nairobi, Kenya. The school was located near to the capital's airport. Kids were always seeing planes flying overhead, but few of them had had the chance to explore one up close. An artist from the community painted a skyline backdrop behind the element, bringing the scene […]

This climbing structure is great for many children to play on at the same time and can double as a cubby element in the playground. Fast growing vines can be planted to crawl along rebar, creating a shaded space underneath.  Follow the link to get the step-by-step instructions for building your own Rebar Igloo.  (Must […]

In any space for play, "loose parts" are an essential ingredient. Unlike fixed equipment, loose parts are materials that can be moved and manipulated. They allow children the freedom to manipulate and change their environment for their play needs.  These bolted together "roller tires" are a great loose parts addition to a play space. They won't easily […]

When Playground Ideas first started as the "Go Play Project" in Thailand, many of the intial playground elements were built designed to be built from wood. In Thailand, timber is inexpensive and durable, making for an excellent playground material. The "Wonky Wood Climber" was one of the first elements. It can be built in a multitude […]

Rich imaginative role play is a fundamental ingredient a child's heathly child development play life. The "Shop Front Indoor" play frames are a great element to encourage role play in an indoor play space. As they are movable, their position and role in the space can change from day to day by the direction of the […]

Sand and water play is a rich, sensory experience that should be a part of every play space for young children. This easy to build "Sand Water Tire" can be added to a sand pit or mud play space and provides a mixing station amidst the raw materials. For a deluxe version, try the "Sand […]

Jennifer Kelliher is a landscape architect, living and working in Kunming, China. She is a guest writer for the Playground Ideas blog, sharing her knowledge and passion for children's play spaces.  The “Mini Tractor” is a great playground element that encourages imaginative play. A simple design that allows children to climb atop rustic tires and […]

Jennifer Kelliher is a landscape architect, living and working in Kunming, China. She is a guest writer for the Playground Ideas blog, sharing her knowledge and passion for children's play spaces. The Shop Front element is a great playground addition to facilitate imaginary play and role-playing. With a low construction and maintenance cost, it’s an […]