Encourage Activity With Play

Nearly one in five kids between 2 and 19 years old is obese, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Playgrounds can help boost kids' fitness, when well designed. To encourage kids to get moving, it's important to develop play equipment that gives kids more than one path to follow, keeping them engaged and active.

Q: We're looking for ways to encourage active play. What should we consider?

A: Typical post-and-platform play structures can be limiting. Raise the bar by providing playgrounds that offer more creative paths and activities. Three-dimensional net structures offer opportunities for free play that challenge children's motor skills, develop muscles, improve balance, grow self-confidence and stimulate their imaginations. They have no set entry or exit points, which means there's no specific path to be followed, leading kids to choose their own way to play, keeping them active and engaged longer.

Q: What kinds of rope play structures are best for a range of ages?

A: You can find three-dimensional rope play structures in a tremendous array of shapes and sizes, and additional play elements like treehouses and slides offer more ways to get creative with your playground design—and for kids to get creative, active play.

Small rope play structures close to the ground offer smaller kids a chance to explore and expand their abilities, while large skyscrapers can provide an opportunity for kids and adults alike to find new pathways for getting fit through climbing.

Q: What else should we consider?

A: Safety is always a concern on the playground, but accident statistics have shown that properly designed and manufactured rope equipment is among the safest. The net's geometry limits falls to the surface in a way that post-and-platform structures cannot. Be sure to provide an effective safety surface beneath the equipment, as you would with any piece of play equipment.