Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Merry Go Rounds

Tea Cup Merry Go Round
The Merry Go Round is one of the most popular pieces of playground equipment. It is also a classic piece that many playgrounds like to install.

AAA State of Play has many types of merry go rounds to choose from. Classic, traditional designs to fun and different designs, there is sure to be one that you like!

One of my favorites is the Tea Cup Merry Go Round. I love the whimsical feeling this product gives to the playground. It is all the fun of a merry go round in a different and fun design!

Head over to our site to see the other types of merry go rounds we offer. I guarantee there will be styles you've never seen before!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Building a Playground in a Day

Today I read a great article from Patch.com about a playground being built in one day at the DeKalb Academy of Technology and Environment Elementary and Middle charter schools in Georgia. A group of over 200 volunteers is coming together this Wednesday, August 29th, to build a playground for the D.A.T.E schools.

This project is part of a community partnership entitled Let's Play. With the help of Let's Play, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, and KaBOOM!, 528 playgrounds were either built or improved last year.

These types of organizations and projects are absolutely great for improving the health and activity level of children.

Check out the full article here! These organizations may be able to help in your area.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Tetherball.. Way Underrated!

I remember the first time I played tetherball. It was when I was in the 5th grade. At the time I was in 5th grade our school corporation was adding on to one of the two elementary schools. I had gone to one all my life and because of the construction, 5th grade was moved to the middle school. Because we were in the middle school, we used the playground of the school that was under construction. This was a new playground to me, since I had gone to the other elementary school.

I remember going out to recess and seeing the tetherball poles and having absolutely no idea what they were, or how you played the game. But once I learned how to play, I found out how much fun it was! A simple game of a ball on a string tied to the top of the pole kept us busy the entire time we were at recess. There was always a line to play and sometimes we waited the whole recess in that line just to take one turn.

Tetherball is definitely one of those underrated playground games, in my opinion. It is just a simple ball on a string, but it can be so much fun!

Check out our line of Tetherball and Funnelball games to add to your playground.. or even your backyard!!

Monday, August 20, 2012

How to select Backyard Playground Equipment?

It is always a great idea to turn your backyard into private playground for the kids, where they can climb, swing and play freely till the sun goes down. Though it sounds easy, but it becomes quite a challenging job for the parents to convert the backyard into playground for their kids. Before you put your thoughts into action, you need to pay attention on certain things.

There are different types of play equipment like slides, dome climber, swing sets and see saw that you can install in the backyard playground. Select the play sets after considering the availability of space in your backyard. Make sure there should be adequate space between the two play sets in the backyard.

The next thing that you should consider is the age of your child. If you have toddlers, you can choose to have plastic play sets, but these would not be the safe play sets for school goers. Wooden play sets are the best option for the old kids. These play sets are not only the safest but also provide unlimited fun to them. Usually parents prefer installing wood sets as these can also stand firmly in the backyard for years on end.

While selecting the indoor playground equipment, ensure that the manufacturer has designed it in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Recycled Plastic Park Equipment?

Say you are looking for a few park benches and picnic tables to put in your park. There are many products to choose from and you keep weighing the pros and cons of every one. Maybe you like the style of one and the color of another, or the designs just don't match what you currently have. Look no farther than the recycled plastic products from Jayhawk Plastics.

Jayhawk Plastics is the manufacturer of some of our most popular products when it comes to park equipment. From trash receptacles to bike racks, from picnic tables to benches, Jayhawk Plastics provides a large variety of products that will match any of your existing equipment.

By using a recycled plastic item you are also helping out the environment. You are also providing a unique element to your park!

Recycled Plastic T-Table
Be sure to head over to our Jayhawk Plastics section and see why recycled plastic park equipment is a good choice for you.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Sandboxes

One of my first outdoor play items was a sandbox. My dad made it for me and it was always a lot of fun to try and make sand castles with my brother. My dad and grandpa later added a playhouse on top of the sandbox and I felt like I had the coolest play set around.

I think the sandbox is a toy any kid will love. The imagination can take over and play can happen for hours. That is why I love our selection of sandboxes. Several sizes are available and we even offer sand accessories.
Diggables Fossil Jam

The 5x5 Sand Box Kit is one of our smaller sizes. Just add one of the Diggables, Fossil Jam or Raptor Rock to complete a fun afternoon in the sand.

5x5 Sandbox Kit

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Benefits of Playing Outside

Every kid loves playing in the playground but when he has a PSP in his hand, he would not flex his muscle to go out in the playground. PSPs are not bad for the kids but these are certainly not as beneficial as playing outside. Don't worry if you also have the kids that do want to move outside the home, deal with this situation by installing some playground equipment in your backyard and convert it to their own private playground. They will surely love this and start spending more time in backyard playground.

You can install different types of outdoor play equipment such as climber, swing sets, small play house, see saw and slides in the backyard. The equipment not only provides fun to your kids but also adds a lot to their growth years.

A recent survey has revealed that kids who play outside daily are more physically fit and active than those kids who stay indoors. Various skills like motor, mental, social, cognitive, social and communication skills of the kids get polished, while exploring different play sets with their friends.

Besides, you should also take care of kids' safety. You should install only that outdoor play equipment which is designed as per the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines. Besides, you can also cover up the backyard surface with the finest quality mulch. It would reduce the risk of any injury to your kid that occurs due to falling from the ground.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Back to School

A few posts ago I wrote about supplying your classroom with the things you need to make your classroom complete. Today being the 1st of August, "Back to School" is on most minds. Kids have mixed feelings of being excited, yet not wanting to give up summer freedom.

Value Line 2-Station Art Center
I'd like to feature a few more exciting classroom products as we lead up to the start of school. The Value Line 2-Station Art Center allows for creativity to really shine. The two sided center enables two children to draw at one time. The two shelves below the easels provide storage for art supplies.

Science Exploration Table
Another great classroom product is the Science Exploration Table. The center tub is removable, making it easy to clean. Included are two reflective, two magnetic, and two magnifying panels. Let kids explore the wonders of science with this great table.

As August progresses I will highlight other great school products to gear up for going back to school!