Age Appropriate Play

Are you ever at a playground and as you’re watching your child climb on the equipment you think to yourself, “Hmm, I wonder if this the appropriate size for my toddler/preschooler to be playing on?

Playgrounds aren’t just for playing on.  They are designed to support the physical needs of children and are often age specific.  While this may vary, depending on your country, the standards range from approximately 12-18 months to 5 years old, and from 5 years old to 12 years. Some places may a grouping for 0-2, and 3-5, and 14+.  Ideally, a child’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development is all considered when designing a playground. 

The experience should be just the right blend of fun and challenge. While it may seem awesome as an independent 3-year-old to have full access to the highest slides, and climbers, for their own safety it’s best to ensure that you’ve done a quick check for the playground equipment label that will identify the appropriate age-group. Did you know that existed? Next time you’re at the playground take a look – under the game, on a support beam, or on the side of the equipment. Make it a fun scavenger hunt to see who can find it first!  If there are no labels, then you can check out the size and complexity of the playground to determine if it’s appropriate for your child. 

Younger ages will see equipment that has helps reduce the fall distances as the maximum fall height varies by age:

  • Low platforms
  • Simple steps or ladders 
  • Low profile slides
  • Bucket seat swings

Play areas for children under 2 years old should offer a safe space to crawl, climb, and pull themselves up. Sensory play is important at this age, so you will often see equipment that has musical components like bells or drums, or shapes and tracks that can be traced with their fingers.

Under the age of five, you should avoid fire poles, see saws, cable pulley games, or trampolines.
Did you know trampolines create a high risk of injury for children, especially if more than one child is on the trampoline at the same time.

As preschoolers become steadier on their feet, you want access to playground equipment that helps to encourage crawling and climbing on a bit bigger scale. Climbing over and under, sliding independently, and play activities that promote socialization.  Splash pads or sand boxes can be great for working on skills like sharing and creative play. 

It’s appropriate to use spiral slides with one twist, and single file step ladders. They may even progress onto independent swings just to prove that they are a big kid now!

The wild fun comes for the 5- to 12-year-olds.  High platforms and slides, fun climbers, and rope courses, and lots of equipment that challenges their full body coordination and strength. 

By this age you’ll see game likes cable walks, spinners, spiral slides, and track rides. This is a perfect age for socializing and creative play, so open concept games do well in this age group. Ropes, mast nets, and nature-based play can bring hours of developmental fun. 

The tricky part to all these options is that playgrounds are often designed generically, with no set boundaries or flow.  All children deserve a safe space to play, however that will change based on skill and age.  Developing a play area with separate, yet complimentary access, or with levels of challenge within each game that increase over time offers great play value and play return.  When kids play on equipment that doesn’t match their skill level, it can be too challenging – causing frustration or injury, or it can be boring – causing frustration or injury!

For schools and daycares, one thing that works well is separate play areas instead of one main playground.   This makes it easier for teachers to guide children to more appropriate play levels to reduce risks of injury. 

The right play equipment, for the right age and skill matters. Age-appropriate play matters!

Related Posts

Dynamo Playgrounds

661 County Rd 9
Plantagenet, ON
K0B 1L0 Canada

Copyright © 2023 Dynamo Playgrounds. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Quality policy available upon request.