Sand is one material used for playgrounds (Photo by Jane Gates)
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If you want to build an area for your children to play, there is a good selection of materials you can use as flooring. You will want to use something that is non-toxic, can cushion falls, and is safe in every way possible. Here are some materials you can use as flooring for a child play area.
Sand: This is the cheapest, safest and easiest material that has been used for decades in child play areas. It can be messy, need constant topping up and is not suggested where there are cats that may use it as a place for elimination. Only use sand where you can provide walls to keep it in bounds.
- Gravel: Also inexpensive and easy, gravel has most of the same issues as sand, though it tends to stay in place better. Larger gravel will not attract cats as a cat litter, but it is likely to be too coarse for tender skin.
- Wood bark: Wood bark or chips can create a cheap and easy flooring material, but it blows away in wind and floats off in rain. It will also bleach white in sunshine. For a very temporary play area it is adequate.
- Grass: If you live where lawns grow well without having to use a lot of extra water, grass is excellent for a play area. Lawns are high maintenance and not inexpensive to install or care for, but children love running on them and they do provide a good play surface with nothing very young children are likely to accidentally swallow.
- Concrete: This is only advisable for play courts for older children as it will not cushion falls,
- Artificial lawn: Check to make sure you buy a quality artificial lawn made without toxic chemicals and make sure it is installed right. With sufficient padding and regular cleaning, a synthetic lawn is a good choice as a flooring for a child’s play area, albeit it is costly and can get hot in intense sun.
- Shredded tires: This material has been an excellent way of recycling a difficult waste product in our society. Shredded tires can be bought by the bag and used like bark or can be installed as a smooth surface with a professional application. This product gives excellent cushioning and should be safe in all ways, though recently there has been some additional investigation into the possibility of residual trace toxins from the original tire usage.
This is a quick run down on some of the most popular materials used for flooring in a child’s play area. Do your research to see which on will work best in your backyard.
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