According to the CDC, playground falls are the little cause of children’s trips to the emergency room—more than 200,000 each year. This is not just scraped knees or elbows, but sometimes life-threatening injuries. For this reason, a shock-absorbing surface is essential in creating safer spaces for children to play. This short guide will take a look at some of the different materials out there from wood chips to rubber mats and playground turf to help you choose the best surface material for your playground.
1) Wood Chips
Wood chips are a pretty common option as they are generally inexpensive and easy to install. They usually blend well into natural surroundings and can be very eco-friendly. However, wood chips do require a lot of maintenance. When children play, it’s easy for them to accidentally knock the wood chips loose. Routine raking on a weekly or more often basis is often necessary. In addition, even when they are well-maintained, wood-chips only offer moderate shock-absorption benefits.
2) Rubber Mats
Rubber mats or tiles are another common commercial playground choice. When it comes to safety, they are one of the best options on the market because of their high shock-absorption properties. However, they tend to rather expensive to both buy and install and will require a professional. If not well-maintained, the edges may curl over time creating a potential hazard for tripping. In addition, they have a very distinctive appearance that may not fit in with the surroundings.
3) Sand
Most of us, remember the days of sandy playgrounds. But if you have noticed, you don't see as often nowadays. This is because while sand is easy to install and affordable, it does have several drawbacks. The first problem is it's easy for animal waste or sharp objects to be concealed in the sand. It's also messy. Children often through it at each other and it often finds a way back into our homes. It also requires a huge amount of maintenance to ensure it keeps in good shape and doesn't have anything bad hiding in it.
4) Playground Turf
These days, more and more people are looking to synthetic turf as a playground option. Like rubber mats, they are a great option for protecting children while blending in much better with the local environment. Turf is also less expensive while being easier to maintain both rubber mats and wood chips.
More than anything, playground turf offers flexibility. There are many different affordable turf options that are not only specifically designed for high activity areas while also fitting into the general atmosphere you want for your backyard or wherever you’re installing the playground.
Finding the Best Playground Material for Your Children
There’s nothing more exciting than building a playground for your children. There are many great options out there, but when it comes to safety, affordability, and appearance, playground turf is by far the best choice. Connect with one of our Playground Turf specialists who can help you choose the best surface for building the perfect playground for your kids.