Playgrounds Archive

We know creating fun and safe places for children to play can be a big part of what your parent group does; you'll find tons of ideas and help for every part of a playground project in the articles below. Find more helpful tools and info on the Playgrounds resources page.

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• New Playground Inspires Community - How one group transformed a run-down school playground into a place to be proud of.
• Learning on the Playground - Many school playgrounds today offer more than a place for kids to let off steam—they’re great places for learning, too.
• Playground Projects That Won't Break the Bank - You don’t always need a big budget to revamp your playground; even small changes can make a big difference.
• Major Project: New Playground, New Way To Play - Through creativity and hard work, PTO Today's 2011 Parent Group of the Year for Outstanding Job on a Completed Major Project managed to create a $30,000 community playground with a budget of only $4,000.
• Put More "Play" in Your Playground - Take your next school playground project beyond the standard fare with some fun, inclusive components that also enhance learning for students of different ages and physical abilities.
• Building a Special Needs Playground - How one group funded its accessible playground project, making recess fun for all students at the school.
• Planning Your Playground - Building or renovating a playground may be the biggest single project your PTO undertakes. We walk you through the 19 essential steps to success.
• The Buzz: Shape Up - In addition to supporting their school’s physical education program, many parent groups are finding new ways to foster fitness outside of school hours.
• Accessible Play: Fun for Everyone - The best playgrounds are designed to be enjoyed by children of all abilities.
• Playground Project Builds Community Spirit - With fun touches like a triple slide and swinging bridge alongside a replica of the town square, this popular play area was created for the whole neighborhood to enjoy.
• Make Your Playground More Fun - Small changes can make a playground more appealing to kids.
• Make Your Playground Project a Success - 7 keys to planning any playground build or renovation.
• A Playground That Teaches Science - Kids love the unique playground, and teachers have created a 47-page curriculum to go with it.
• Playground for the Hearing-Impaired - Careful design makes this a special space for all children, including the school's 45 deaf students.
• How To Inspect Your Playground - Playgrounds take a lot of wear and tear. Here's what to look for to make sure your playground remains a safe environment for kids.
• Playground Surface Is a Safety Key - Installing and maintaining the right surface underneath your playground is crucial to prevent injuries.
• Funding Our Playground - How one PTA met its goal of raising $40,000 in a single year to update the school playground.
• Partnership Approach Pays Off - One school reached out to local businesses and governments to raise funds and create excitement within the community. The result: a new $80,000 playground.
• Build That Playground Yourself - Community-built playgrounds take time and effort, but with help you can do the construction yourself and save a lot of money.
• Kids Add Fun to Playground Design - Letting kids share their vision will help you create a playground that’s more fun and better used.
• A Plan for Playground Games - The Peaceful Playgrounds program reduces discipline problems and promotes development of social and motor skills.
• 6 Keys for Playground Design - Keep these important topics in mind when planning a playground to make sure the result is a space where children can have fun and be safe.
• Small Group, Big Playground Project - A Massachusetts mom proves that that one impassioned parent can make even a large-scale playground project come together.
• The Playground King - After replacing the playground at his own school, a Napa, Calif., volunteer discovered that the play areas at many other schools in the district were unsafe, as well.
• Combating Childhood Obesity With Physical Play Opportunities - Recess and physical education make a difference for students' long-term health.
• Dramatic Play in Outdoor Play Environments - Play time is fun, but it's also an important part of child development; by sharing their pretend stories through speech and body language, children learn to understand the world around them.
• Is Your Playground Safe? - How safe is your playground? The National Program for Playground Safety provides some guidelines to help you judge.
• Safe Playground Surfaces - When kids are horsing around, bumps and sprains do happen; making sure the right surface is underneath the playground can minimize them, as well as help prevent life-threatening head and neck injuries.