Sand is another natural element that adds hours of fun to your playspace. Children are instinctively drawn to it, making the sandpit one of the busiest places in the playground.

The sandpit is also one of the best places to learn with many experiences on offer. For example, with its texture and changing consistency when wet or dry, sand has a great sensory dimension. Sand is also great for social learning. Children need no skill to play with it, so they can easily do so alongside one another other, which is the first step towards playing together. Sandpits also provide flexible spaces that can be set up in several different ways to capture and develop future interests. For example, one day the sandpit can be a construction site with trucks and rocks, another day it can be set up as an outdoor kitchen with cakemaking and mud pies.

 

Download the full guide: The Elements of Play

Creo sand play options

 

Above Ground Sandpit

Above ground sandpits allow for the possibility of seated edges, playable edges or edges used to help separate and contain sand. The down sides are that younger users cannot crawl straight in, sand is harder to sweep back up into the sandpit, and the edge may cause tripping hazards or decrease visual supervision across the site.

 

Built-in, Ground-level Sandpit

This option is great for flow, especially in sites where there are other associated sand play options such as outdoor kitchens. You don’t have children climbing over the edge of the sandpit with the related risks. It looks more natural and can often have planting around its edges. It also provides easier maintenance from daily sweeping of sand straight in, or even tipping sand in when topping up.

Built-in Sandpit with Incorporated Water Play

This option offers all the benefits of a built-in, ground-level sandpit, as well as the added advantage of water to create wet sand creations.

 

 

Considerations when selecting sand play options

The sandpit is often the main feature on a site. Size, shape and location are extremally important to getting it right and may dictate which option you choose. Edges need to be carefully considered to reduce sand travel as much as possible.

Activation

Sandpits are always popular and are a great item to activate an unused area.

Location

Sandpits need to be located so that children don’t run through other activities to get to them. Also, if they are too close to buildings, sand travels inside very easily.

Age of user

This should be a factor when determining a raised edge or sunken sandpit as sides can become a tripping hazard for younger children.

 

 

 

In the ECE environment, fixed play equipment is a contentious issue. Often there is not the space for big traditional forts and jungle gym type equipment. Furthermore, these types of equipment often make supervision hard and are inflexible. When only one type of play is offered day after day, children can lose interest.

Flexible play areas, on the other hand, provide changing play environments that keep it stimulating and challenging. This is especially important for facilitating the development of a range of gross and fine motor skills. Today, Centres are trending towards this more flexible approach.

Download the full guide: The Elements of Play

Creo flexible play area options

 

Flexible Set Up Area with Moveable Equipment

Spaces need to be the right shape to ensure flexible layout options are possible. Safety surfaces are needed under this type of area. Engineered wood fibre, synthetic turf or rubber matting are all suitable.

 

 

Loose Parts Play

Loose parts play promotes flexible play and opens possibilities for social and cognitive play, as well as physical skills development. It is self-directed and allows children to take risks.

 

 

Bike Tracks

Bike tracks can be added very easily to a site, either through the installation of an artificial safety surface, or by painting the track outline on an available hard surface. This allows road rule learning as well as physical bike skills to develop.

 

 

Topography Play

This is a type of fixed equipment that can be used as a flexible play option. A mound, with or without a fixed slide, offers imaginative options as well as motor skills development.

 

 

 

Considerations when selecting flexible play area options

 

Space

The size, shape and numbers in your centre will determine the options available.

Location

Main equipment spaces need to be located in such a way as to discourage direct traffic cutting through the space as a thoroughfare route.

Range

The wider the range of experiences the better. A balance of flexible equipment and loose parts is ideal to cover a range of learning and development benefits.

Flexibility

Spaces need to be dynamic, flexible and responsive to maintain the interest, continued growth and learning of the child.

Challenge

Challenge and risk taking is an important element for ECE aged children. However, you need to encourage this in a controlled and safe way.