7 tips for arranging a playground for children in the country

Cottage is one of the most popular places for family vacations in the warm season. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can breathe fresh air, admire nature, gather together with friends and family for a picnic, or grow fruits and vegetables on your own - as you like. If there are kids or teenagers in the family, then it is necessary for them to provide interesting leisure in nature, and the best option would be a playground for children in the country. It can vary greatly in equipment and size, which depends on numerous factors, but, most importantly, it must be safe and meet the interests of the child.

No. 1. Age of the child and playground equipment

The first thing you should focus on when organizing a summer cottage for children is age of the child and his needs:

• the smallest complex game complexes are not needed - sandboxes will be enough, benchesfungus inflatable pool- a paddling pool and, perhaps, a simple small swing;
• children under 6 years old like small slides, swings of various types, carousels, simple sports equipment. If there is space, arrange a closed track for cycling;
• children under 12 years old more complex game equipment is suitable, with numerous slides, ropes, labyrinths and bridges, stylized as a fortress or a pirate ship. In this case, ready-made children's complexes are perfect;
• children from 12 years old it is already possible to equip a full-fledged sports ground with a Swedish wall, horizontal bar, rope, simple simulators, and the former playground, when it becomes unnecessary, can be converted into a recreation area.

If in the family several children of different ages, then the ideal solution will be modern modular game complexes, which can be arranged in different ways, rebuilt, supplemented with new elements and, thus, make the site interesting for kids of all ages. The complexes equipped with facilities for young children and adolescents will forget about the constant problem of upgrading the playground and will for a long time meet all the needs of children.

No. 2. Choosing a place for a playground in the country

The safety of the child and his comfort depend on how correctly the place for the playground is chosen. It is advisable to find such a plot in the country so that it Meets the following requirements:

• the playground should be as high as possible away from farm buildings, greenhousesthorny bushes and various communications;
• if there is a pond on the site, it is better to be separated from the children's area fencing or hedges;
• the playground should be good viewed from the windows of a country house and from any place where adults spend most of their time (beds, rest areas, etc.);
• children's area should be well lit, its location in dense shade is not allowed, on the north side of the house, in the lowlands, in the area of ​​high groundwater occurrence - it will always be damp here, and after rain everything will dry out for a long time. On the other hand, there should be no excess ultraviolet.Ideally, a playground for children should be located near fruit trees that give a diffuse shadow, and it is desirable only for a third of the children's area. If there are no trees, then you can equip a small canopy or build a small house - a similar solution will allow children to play on the playground and in light rain;
• it is also worth considering wind direction in the region and protect the site from drafts by a hedge or a small fence;
• better place the site on flat surface, but if this is problematic, then the area for the children's zone will have to be terraced. Even a seemingly slight bias can lead to toys rolling down and water in children's pool will be distributed unevenly;
• under an inflatable pool, if provided, it is better to lay a special dense base or even perform paving. It is allowed to install the pool on the ground, but there have been cases when the grass sprouted and pierced the bottom of the pool: first, of course, the water will not flow out, but as a result, a sieve will be obtained from the structure;
• it is allowed to organize the site in the immediate vicinity of the main fence of the site, and the fence can be used for mounting boards for drawing with crayons.

No. 3. The size of the playground in the country

That the playground turned out functional and was not traumatic, it is important in advance create project, where to mark all the structures on a scale, given the free space around them. Depending on the size of the place and age of the child allocated for the site, the dimensions of the equipment and its quantity will be different.

In order to organize everything correctly, you first need to decide what area is allocated for the children's area, then decide what gaming equipment is in priority, what dimensions it has, and draw up a plan on paper, taking into account the following safety regulations:

• in front of the slides and some stairs there should be a runway;
• There should be a safety zone of at least 2 m around the swing, carousel and other dynamic structures, the exact value depends on the size of the equipment. If a finished design is purchased, the manufacturer indicates how much free space around the carousel should be;
• around sports equipment it is also necessary to provide an adequate supply of free space;
• The size of the play equipment must be appropriate for the age of the child. If a slide about 2 m high is enough for a preschooler, then for a schoolchild this parameter increases to 3-3.5 m. The size of the sandbox and other objects should correspond to the age and number of children in the family. In addition, does not interfere with the site with a small marginso that when the guests with children visit, all the kids are comfortable.

It turns out, if you put a separate slide, then you need at least 15 square meters. m of space, for a carousel - about 20 square meters. m, swing - 15 square meters. m, spring rocking chairs - up to 10 square meters. m. If there is not so much free space on a summer cottage, it makes sense to purchase ready children's play complex. Its equipment can be completely different, and such a design occupies an area of ​​15 square meters. m

In addition, to ensure maximum safety, you should get rid of sharp metal corners, carefully sand and varnish or paint all wooden parts. Swing and some other carousels are buried in the ground for warranty and concreted.

Number 4. Playground material

The floor of the play area for children should not be too hard so as not to injure the child in the event of a fall. It should also be non-slip and environmentally friendly. For the conditions of the cottages are best suited:

• lawn - The most natural option, in addition, it is pleasant to walk on the grass even barefoot. To choose for sowing, you need a grass mixture resistant to trampling and with an increased density of shoots.This is usually used in stadiums, but even in some places it will be crushed over time, so you will have to sow the lawn, and you also need to regularly mow and water it. After the rain, the playground will be unsuitable for games;
• sand large fractions in which the foot will not sink, is a natural material that softens falls. It is often used to organize sports fields. The advantages include accessibility, and you don’t have to think about a special sandbox. Among the minuses are the difficulty of cleaning, the ability to spread over the site and the need to wait for the sand to dry after rain. The basis for the sand coating is a granite screening layer of 5-7 cm, covered geotextile and geogrid. Layer sand is from 2 to 10 cm;
• bark - Not very common coating material for playgrounds, but still found. Bark is a natural material that does not adhere to clothing and shoes, well mitigates falls, but cleaning the site will be difficult. The durability of the coating is limited to 2-3 years, but the bark is inexpensive. To equip such a site, you need to dig a hole about 20 cm deep, cover it with geotextile, cover it with sand 15 cm, lay the geotextile again, and then pour a 5 cm layer of bark;
• artificial turf devoid of many of the shortcomings characteristic of previous materials. This is a rolled material on an elastic basis, the coating of which accurately imitates the natural stems of the grass. It is easy to lay it with your own hands, its care is minimal, it does not get trampled, has a soft surface, allows water to pass through, is distinguished by durability, all-weather season, wear resistance, does not stain clothes, but is expensive and not as good as grass or sand and softens blows. Lay an artificial lawn on a concrete base, and when choosing a coating, consider the height and thickness of the blades of grass, as well as the density of the coating, because artificial stems should not hamper the child's movement;
• rubber tile - one of the most modern options. The material is absolutely safe for the child, springy, softens drops, does not stain, easy to clean, lets water through and dries quickly. Tiles are produced in different colors and even with funny drawings - a great solution for a playground. Care of the coating will be minimal, because it is durable, does not wear out, and it can be laid on almost any flat surface and even soil;
• bulk rubber coating, like tiles, consists of crumb rubber and a polyurethane binder. It has all the same advantages, but does not have seams, and its organization requires the use of special equipment, so it is rarely used in cottages;
• modular plastic coating consists of individual elements that are simply and quickly laid on any base and connected using a special lock. It can even be disassembled and moved to another place. Modules are made of high-quality safe plastic, which is not afraid of sunlight, moisture, can withstand severe loads, and rainwater is drained due to the holes.

No. 5. What should be on the playground?

The equipment of the playground for children in the country depends on the size of the area allocated for it, the interests and age of the child. Most often, a playground is equipped with such elements:

• sandbox - a mandatory attribute of the site for the smallest;
• swing, carousel, bungee, rocking chairs of different sizes and difficulty levels;
• slides;
• houses
• stairs, rings, bars and other sports equipment;
• pool and trampoline.

Some items for the playground can be purchased separately. If you have skills, then you can build a swing, a sandbox and even slides with houses on your own, and the easiest option is to buy a ready-made game complex.

No. 6. Children's game complex for a summer residence

Domestic and foreign manufacturers offer modern parents a huge selection of ready-made children's complexes for summer cottages. Usually, they consist of several modules and are easy to assemble, turning into a real constructor. If necessary, an additional module can be purchased and modify the existing site. Some companies offer the manufacture of such sites to order, taking into account all the requirements and wishes.

Options may vary greatly, and the choice depends on the age of the child and free space. Standard set includes a bench, sandpit, slide and swing. More complex complexes can be equipped with houses, fortresses, bridges, cobwebs, nets, tunnels, labyrinths and ropes. For older children provided sports and game complexes, which includes the Swedish wall, horizontal bars, rings, simple simulators.

As material can be used:

• tree - preferred option. Large domestic companies use it, and only some elements can be made of plastic or metal;
• plastic. Responsible manufacturers, if they use plastic, are of the highest quality, as evidenced by the accompanying documentation. The quality of plastic systems from nameless Chinese manufacturers is dubious;
• inflatable complexes - An excellent summer residence option for the smallest. In the literal sense of the word, such a playground can be taken with you to nature. As a rule, inflatable complexes are a slide with a trampoline or a pool with balls.

Modern gaming complexes improve the physical shape of the child and develop imagination, but the main thing is that the design is safe:

• the slide should be with high sides and a rounded bottom;
• nets and cobwebs should be made of durable nylon or pearl rope;
• sharp corners and edges, protruding bolts, wood roughness are not allowed;
• the complex must be strong and stable, and its supports are buried in the ground for guarantee and concreted. The need for concreting disappears if the complex is large enough, wide and heavy, at the support in it are located equidistant from each other. It will be stable, and dismantling will be much easier.

As for manufacturers, then it is better to pay attention to the products of such companies:

• Rainbow - an American brand, offers high-quality wooden complexes of different sizes and configurations, but the prices are high;
• Perfetto Sport is an Italian brand. The company offers wooden complexes with plastic elements, they are equipped with slides, swings, and at the same time are quite compact and cost less than the American counterpart;
• Keter - simple and inexpensive Israeli-made gaming complexes for the smallest. Plastic, compact and with an interesting design;
• Paremo - high-quality domestic complexes, which are several times cheaper than foreign analogues, but in terms of reliability and equipment they are not inferior to them;
• "Dewdrop" - game and sports and game complexes from a tree. Compact, well equipped, inexpensive;
• Playgarden is a large domestic manufacturer of children's complexes, which offers interesting turnkey solutions, observing all requirements for safety, aesthetics and attractiveness for a child. There are solutions designed for any budget.

Number 7. DIY playground

Ready-made complexes can frighten off the price, but this does not mean that it is unnecessary to equip the playground at the cottage at all. Some elements can be built independently:

• sandbox done elementarily. It is enough to dig a hole with a depth of 20-25 cm, cover it with pebbles or crushed stone and tamping a layer of stones is a drainage. Along the edges of the pit, a box of polished boards is laid, and everyone is covered with clean sifted sand. You can lay geotextiles between drainage and sand. It remains only to put an umbrella nearby, and the sandbox is ready. Instead of a frame, sometimes used old tires;
• hut It will become a place for kids to play and is made of long rods that are fixed in the ground at an angle. The upper ends of the branches are connected. Do not forget to leave a place for entry;
• play house it’s more difficult to build, but quite real. For the construction of the frame, you need a wooden beam, and the walls and roof can be made of picket. The interior of the house and the external decor depends on the imagination;
• the simplest swing can be built from a strong peeled board or tire, which are attached with chains or ropes to a thick branch of a tree, a wooden or metal frame. Metal crossbars will have to be welded, and the base should be concreted. The rope or chain is attached to the seat of the swing with the help of special fasteners - repair bolts with hooks;
• if you attach a rope or two rings to a metal bar or branch, you get a sports equipment;
• if the place allows, you can put a goal or basketball hoops for outdoor games. With limited territory, you can equip the site ping pong tablewhich is easy to build from a sheet of plywood;
• slide it’s difficult to build with your own hands, but if you buy a ready-made plastic ramp, and with your own hands make a support for it and a ladder, the task will be greatly simplified;
• small water for games and launching boats can be made from an ordinary basin, if you dig it into the ground and a little ennoble the coast;
• the final touch - fencing site, which can be made from sawn more or less thick and even branches. If you give them a pencil shape and paint them in bright colors, it will come out very interesting.

You can organize a functional playground for children in the country with any budget - the main thing is to follow safety rules and find a suitable place.