5 to 12 Years

Children ages 5 to 12 are looking for new challenges that peak their interest and keep them engaged. When they see a tower, they want to climb to the top and look out at the world below. When they see a climber, they want to scale it. A spinner? They want to know how fast they can go. Physical and mental challenges are a key motivation in play.

Having moved beyond the playhouses of preschool, school-aged kids are looking for unscripted, unstructured play, where their imaginations can take them to places that have yet to be defined. That's why play structures that include rope climbers or multi-component mainstructures are appealing to them because there's no one way to play on them, and kids can come up with their own rules to follow and paths to navigate.

Playgrounds can help kids of this age group develop the motor skills of balance, coordination, and muscle endurance, while they also hone mental problem-solving skills and the social skills that collaboration requires.

When selecting playground equipment components and stand-alone elements for this age group, consider the needs of a wide range of abilities and skills.