It’s important for children to spend time playing outside. Unfortunately, children are spending far less time outdoors than their parents did as kids. Research shows that kids play outside for about four hours each week, compared to a little over eight hours a week when their parents were children. A recent study from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that children ages eight to 18 spend about four hours per day on the internet and their mobile devices. Children can get away from the lure of the internet, mobile phones, and tablets by spending time on an outdoor playground. However, it’s important to choose the right type of safety surface for these areas. With that in mind, here’s more information about playground safety surfaces.
Advantages of Poured Rubber Playgrounds
If you’re choosing safety surfaces for a playground, you’ll want to choose options made from rubber. Many playground owners prefer poured rubber playgrounds. It’s understandable to wonder why this type of surfacing is so advantageous. Considering that, here are three important advantages of choosing playground rubber turf.
- Dries Quickly
Almost nothing ruins time at the playground faster than stormy weather. Fortunately, you’ll be glad to know that poured rubber playground surfaces dry extremely quickly. This helps to ensure that children avoid slipping while walking on this type of surface. In addition, you won’t have to worry about this material shifting or moving under anyone’s feet. - Long Lasting
It’s important to choose a safety surface that lasts a long time. This ensures that you’re saving money throughout the year by not having to replace any surfaces. Considering that, poured rubber lasts much longer than other types of playground surfaces. - Easy to Keep Clean
Another important concern is to choose a surface that’s easy to clean. Poured rubber is extremely easy to keep clean because this surface has no gaps or cracks to worry about. In addition, rubber is an antimicrobial surface which means it rejects microbial growth.
Pour in Place Rubber vs Playground Tiles
You might have also heard of rubber playground tiles. Considering that, it’s understandable to wonder about how these tiles compare to pour in place rubber. While both options are suitable, many playground owners feel that pour in place rubber has more advantages.
One important advantage of poured rubber is the number of design options you’ll have. By choosing poured rubber, you can have this mixture designed in a wide range of colors. That being said, poured rubber needs to be mixed on site which means your playground might need to be closed for a day or two.
Another advantage of this type of rubber is that it can be poured to meet height safety requirements. You might be unaware that each type of commercial playground equipment has guidelines regarding the height of safety surfaces. If you’re choosing interlocking rubber tiles, every safety surface will be the same height.
In conclusion, it’s imperative to choose a safe surface for your playground. Many people prefer poured rubber playground surfaces. Having a fun playground encourages children to play outdoors. Research shows that less than 33% of children are active to a healthy level, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, which means only participating in 25 minutes of physical activity three times per week. By having a poured in rubber surfacing, you can rest assured that children will stay safe while remaining healthy.
