All Play Blog

All Play April Newsletter

Linda — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:15:38 +0000

Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter regarding the

commercial playground industry. We hope you find the information timely and useful,

and we look forward to providing future newsletters to keep you current

with industry announcements, current products and installations.

Just How Much Exercise Does Your Child Need?

We all know that our kids need plenty of exercise to be healthy, but just how much is enough?

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its “Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans,” children and adolescents should engage in at least one hour of physical activity per day. While this may sound like a lot of exercise, the good news is that your child may already be meeting the minimum requirements specified by the CDC, which recommends three different types of physical activity.

1. Aerobic Activity should comprise the majority of the 60 minute daily regimen of exercise. Brisk walking, running, and bicycling fall into this category.

2. Muscle Strengthening activities such as gymnastics, push-ups, or tug-of-war should be performed at least three days per week.

3. Bone Strengthening activities like jumping rope, hopscotch, or running should also be included in your child’s play routine at least three days per week.

The CDC notes that all activities should be age appropriate, with thought given to a child’s developmental stage. For example, younger children do not generally require a formal exercise program to strengthen their muscles, since this will be accomplished when they climb on playground equipment. As children move into adolescence, however, a structured program of muscle strengthening which involves weight lifting may prove to be beneficial, particularly in cases when children are active in sports such as football or basketball.

All Play can provide you with all of the playground equipment that your kids need to grow up healthy and strong. Call us today at 800-836-3055, and let us know how we can help you build the playground of your dreams.

British Playground Scholarship

Those who fear that television and computer games have obliterated simple childhood pleasures will be gratified to know that a just-released British study shows that children’s playground games are just as popular as ever, though they often employ a 21st century twist.

Researchers from the universities of London, East London, and Sheffield spent two years observing children on the playground and reached the conclusion that popular media are certainly influencing, but definitely not destroying, life on the playground as we know it.

The findings of the study showed that, while games such as tag and traditional clapping and rhyming activities still predominate most playground play, children often incorporate figures from popular culture – such as Beyonce and Simon Cowell – into their fantasy play on the playground, along with their own versions of kids’ favorites like High School Musical and Harry Potter, utilizing available playground equipment as props to illustrate and augment their stories.

The leader of the study, Andrew Burn of the Institute of Education, says that his research shows that pretend play is still flourishing on the playground. ”Children have always enjoyed enacting scenarios from their home or school lives, as well as fantasy stories involving witches, zombies, princesses, martial arts warriors, and other figures,” Burn said.

The British Library has assembled a comprehensive website to accompany the study. At www.bl.uk/playtimes, you can delve into a history of children’s games which spans the past 100 years. Categories on the site include “Pretend Play,” “Running Around Games,” and “Jokes and Rude Rhymes.”

Ultimately, the study shows that, the more things change, the more they stay the same. And one thing that hasn’t changed is the need for quality playground equipment, so that children can get proper exercise, in both the physical and creative spheres. All Play is your complete playground headquarters – call us today at 800-836-3055.

Parenting While Male?

Here’s a question for dads who take their young children to the playground: do you feel that you have ever been discriminated against because of your gender?

The topic has been examined in a variety of media outlets recently, prompting a number of interesting discussions in print and online regarding the treatment of fathers on the playground. Writing in The Wall Street Journal, Lenore Skenzy – in her essay “Eek, A Male!”- wonders why modern society is so suspicious, wary, and even accusatory when men are seen in the company of children. “These days,” she says, “almost any man who has anything to do with a child can find himself suspected of being a creep. I call it ‘Worst-First’ thinking: Gripped by pedophile panic, we jump to the very worst, even least likely, conclusion first. Then we congratulate ourselves for being so vigilant.”

Jeremy Adam Smith, who blogs on the “Daddy Dialectic” website, responded to the article by telling the story of the time he was asked by a grandmother to leave a playground while taking his child on an outing. “I’ve heard many times at gatherings of fathers,” Smith writes, ”that they are often made to feel like outsiders at parks, playgrounds, and situations where most of the other parents are moms or grandmoms, and that their participation in playgroups or classes is sometimes rejected.”

Smith quickly devised an online survey of men who are primary caregivers, and the poll yielded some surprising results. 24% of respondents said that they had been refused entry – or had been asked to leave – gatherings or situations involving parents and children. 55% said that their parenting skills had been criticized or corrected in a public setting. 58% felt that these criticisms or exclusions occurred because they are male.

While the benefits of vigilance cannot be questioned so far as the safety of our children is concerned, All Play salutes all parents – male and female – who spend time with their children, engaged in healthy activities like going to the playground. All Play is your comprehensive resource for all things “playground.” If we may be of service, please give us a call at 800-836-3055.

The All Play Spotlight

All Play is always installing new playgrounds, so each month we like to spotlight a new installation that we are particularly proud of.

It always pays to do a good job, and here’s an example of why this is true. Lexington Square is a beautiful subdivision located at the intersection of FM 1092 and Independence Blvd in Missouri City, Texas. The homeowners of Lexington Square began talking with one other over a year ago about their need for a playground that would be suited for younger children, since the community already has a playground for older kids.

The residents looked at existing playgrounds in the surrounding neighborhoods, and they were taken by the look of an installation in an adjacent subdivision, Lexington Place. As it happens, this playground was designed by All Play, constructed from Little Tikes Commercial components, and featured in the All Play newsletter a few months ago. The homeowners’ committee also liked the playground at Armstrong Elementary – a Little Tikes facility – where many of their children go to school. They were impressed by the quality of both the play equipment and the installation. By virtue of this research, the committee voted to purchase a Little Tikes playground, designed and installed by All Play. When the job was complete and neighborhood children were running around the playground, Rita Garrett, Board President of Lexington Square, said, “This Playground is really beautiful!”

Each month in the newsletter, we will be spotlighting a new All Play installation. Call us today at 800-836-3055 for a free consultation and quote. You might see your playground featured here in the months ahead!

To contact an All Play representative in your area, click here.

All Play March Newsletter

Linda — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:39:44 +0000

Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter regarding the

commercial playground industry. We hope you find the information timely and useful,

and we look forward to providing future newsletters to keep you current

with industry announcements, current products and installations.

From new playgrounds for your school, neighborhood or church, to shade structures, picnic tables and park benches All Play does it all, and has been doing it for over 20 years. Start your new playground today!

A New Playground Strategy to Protect Our Children

All Play is always installing new playgrounds, and each month we like to spotlight a new installation of which we are particularly proud. This month, however, we would like to present something a bit different: not a single installation, but a network of installations. And not just playgrounds, but structures, which constitute powerful legal barriers, that will prevent convicted sex offenders from living in the neighborhoods surrounding these new playgrounds.

Texas law provides that sex offenders who have been placed on community supervision (probation), released on parole, or placed under mandatory supervision may not live within 1000 feet of playgrounds, schools, day care facilities, or any other areas where children gather. A violation of this law can trigger the revocation of a sex offender’s probation or parole, resulting in his incarceration. These restrictions remain in effect for as long as the individual is under court supervision.

Armed with this information, the residents of Pine Hollow, a subdivision near Pearland, Texas, set out to protect their neighborhood. Positioning playground facilities throughout the residential area so that no playground was more than 1000 feet from another, they effectively blanketed the subdivision in Child Safety Zones. In consultation with All Play, the Pine Hollow homeowners association decided to construct a network of Pocket Parks, small areas with playground equipment scattered throughout the neighborhood. The City of Pearland ruled that, to qualify as playgrounds and meet the qualifications required to mandate the creation of Child Safety Zones, the Pocket Parks should include, at minimum, three independent play events and playground signage.

Working with All Play, the homeowners association assembled a network of Pocket Parks utilizing Kid Builders playground components from the Little Tikes Commercial line. With the addition of four Pocket Parks in the neighborhood, along with an existing large central park, the homeowners association has made Pine Hollow a safer place for kids to live. If your neighborhood could use similar improvements, All Play can assist with professional design and installation of a playground just right for you. Let us help you to create a safer and brighter future that we can all enjoy.

Studies released over the past year demonstrate that recent public concerns regarding the safety of playground surfaces made from recycled tire rubber are, in fact, unfounded. According to these reports, the use of recycled rubber is completely safe.

Over the past several years, there have been concerns raised in some quarters that “tire crumb” the material made from recycled tires used in playground and athletic fields with synthetic turf was unsafe due to the possible presence of some potentially harmful substances, including lead. However, a study released by the State of California in October of 2010 concluded that the levels of any unsafe naturally-occurring or man-made chemicals in play areas or athletic fields utilizing recycled tire materials are either nonexistent or so low that no health risk is posed.

A similar study undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and released last year reached the same conclusion: despite the fear that users of playgrounds or athletic fields might be exposed to harmful metals or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), there is no evidence that health risks are any greater for recycled rubber surfaces when compared to natural turf.

These results, along with those obtain in separate inquiries by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, can give you peace of mind if you are considering a surface made from recycled rubber products for your next playground project. All Play offers a number of options when it comes to rubber playground surfaces, including Landsoft Rubber Mulch, Kidtiles Premier Tiles, and Duraplay poured in place rubber surfacing. To find out more, contact All Play to discuss the benefits of each of these surfaces. All of them are safe, tested, and recommended by the playground experts at All Play.

Playtime for Children Promotes both Physical and Emotional Development

All Play has always championed the value of play for children, since there are so many ways in which playtime can contribute to proper physical and emotional development. According to a report released by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the following are ways in which playtime benefits children:

Healthy brain development – Imaginative play helps build neural connections.
Social development – Children who play together engage and interact with others.
Conflict resolution – Not everyone gets along on the playground — or in life. In play, kids learn to settle disagreements.
Physical activity – Outdoor play, in particular, builds healthy bodies and fights the rise in childhood obesity.
Freedom of expression – Less verbal children may be able to express their views – and even frustrations – through play.

These are just some of the reasons why it is so vitally important to give children the opportunity to play in a safe, stimulating, and constructive environment. At All Play, we pride ourselves on being a complete resource when it comes to playgrounds. Whether you need to build a new playground, repair and existing facility, or just have questions, feel free to call us at 713-939-9888.

Finding Funding for Playgrounds

When building a new playground, there are many questions which must be answered, but among the most important is, “How will we fund this project?”

The National Program for Playground Safety recommends that those in search of funds for playground construction or improvement consult local civic and community foundations and organization to determine what types of initiatives they are funding. Prospects might include the Jaycees, Kiwanis Clubs, Lions Clubs, the Junior League, and local business and industry foundations. City governments may also have grants available to improve playgrounds, particularly if the improvements involve making the facility accessible to children with physical challenges.

Local libraries are a good place to start when searching for sources of funding. For governmental funding possibilities, consult the Federal Register, the Annual Register of Grant Support and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, and listings provided by your local city government. For information on funding at the state level, go to the home pages of your state senators and representatives.

Another option to consider is funding from private foundations. There are tens of thousands private foundations operating in the United States which annually award tens of millions of dollars in grants. For local support – such as playground construction – the most likely prospects are community, corporate, and family foundations. You can find more information by consulting the Foundation Grants Index, the Foundation Center, and the Council on Foundations.

Once you determine which grant-making organizations you would like to target as potential sources of funding, it is important that you present them with a thoroughly professional application that is written and organized according to accepted standards and practices. Most grant proposals include the following elements:

Proposal Summary: A brief statement which will establish the goals of your proposal.
Introduction: This section will demonstrate why your organization is a prime candidate to receive the grant money in which you are applying for.
Problem Statement: A statement of the problem that you wish to solve by using the grant money.
Project Objective: An explanation of how you plan to realize the goals that you have established.
Program Method and Design: A listing of the facilities, equipment, and resources which you will require, along with an explanation of how they will be used.
Evaluation: An explanation of how the success of the project will be determined.
Proposal Budget: A detailed list of expenditures associated with the project.

When questions arise during the grant application process, consult the experts at All Play. We have been in the business of designing and installing playgrounds for over twenty years.

To contact an All Play representative in your area, click here.

All Play February Newsletter

Linda — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:42:44 +0000

Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter regarding the

commercial playground industry. We hope you find the information timely and useful,

and we look forward to providing future newsletters to keep you current

with industry announcements, current products and installations.

Fighting for the Right to Play

For most people, the sounds of children frolicking on a playground are nothing short of magical. But, based on some recent court cases, not everyone shares that opinion.

Last year in Berlin, city official dismissed hundreds of complaints related to noise emanating from playgrounds by legally granting children “the right to be noisy.”

In New York City, controversy has recently erupted in Brooklyn over claims of excessive noise at a public school playground. As part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “Schoolyards to Playgrounds” initiative, the hours at playground at Public School 139 were extended to include evenings and weekends. When local residents asked the city to close the playground on Sundays, the city refused the request. Now the case is moving into the court system.

A similar dispute recently occurred near a school in Michigan, and a condominium association in Massachusetts fined some of its residents for allowing their children to play outside.

Writing in the New York Daily News, Darrell Hammond, the CEO and co-founder of KaBoom, an organization dedicated to helping communities build playgrounds, examines this recent trend and makes a compelling case for the importance of daily play opportunities for children.

Hammond points out that, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only one out of five children now lives within a half mile of a park or a playground. The consequences of this set of circumstances is clear: when children do not have ready access to play areas, they will not be as physically active, and when children do not receive a sufficient amount of exercise, health problems including obesity and diabetes are often the result. In years past, recess periods during the school day provided children with about half of their total opportunities to engage in physical activity. However, the amount of time devoted to recess has shrunk during the past two decades, to the point where American children now spend 50% less time outside at play than they did twenty years ago.

“The consequences are weighty,” Hammond writes. “One in three kids in America is considered overweight or obese. And beyond those physical problems, when children don’t get the chance to run around and interact, they suffer cognitive, social and emotional harm.”

All Play supports the right of all children to play outside and “be kids,” and we recognize the importance of all forms of play during the formative years. Call us when you want to build a new playground. We can provide advice regarding the best equipment for your project and also offer expertise regarding site selection and planning. All Play is your complete and comprehensive resource when it comes to playgrounds. Call us today at 713-939-9888.

As if working mothers didn’t have enough to worry about, a study just published in the journal Child Development indicates that the longer a mother works outside her home, the more likely it is that her children will develop weight problems. Researchers found that the total number of years that mothers work influences their children’s body mass index (BMI), a ratio used to gauge obesity. The connection between mothers’ employment and weight gain was found to be strongest in 5th and 6th grade children.

However, the scientists behind the study emphasize that their findings do not indicate that working mothers do so at the peril of their children’s health. “We want to emphasize that this is not a maternal employment issue,” Taryn Morrissey, the study’s lead researcher says. “This is a family balance issue.”

The authors of the study believe that the link between working mothers and weight gain has to do with a set of circumstances arising from demands on parents’ time. Families in which both parents work tend to eat out more often, and they typically engage in more sedentary activities, such as watching television or playing video games.

“I think what is really important here is to notice that this is a really complicated issue,” says Dr. Yoni Freedhoff of the Bariatric Medical Institute in Ottawa. “We need to stop simplifying obesity, saying that people are eating too much and moving too little. It is a complicated problem with a lot of variables.”

The researchers suggest that families with working mothers endeavor to place a priority on meals featuring healthy ingredients while also making sure that children have the opportunity to engage in sufficient physical activity.

All Play is committed to helping working parents raise healthy children by providing the best in quality playground equipment, along with knowledge and expertise gained from twenty years in the playground business. Call us today at 713-939-9888.

Peace on the Playground

During her career as a teacher and educational administrator in California public schools, Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer has seen her share of playground disputes, injuries, and conflicts. Dissatisfied with the state of affairs, Dr. Bossenmeyer introduced the Peaceful Playground program in 1995, providing schools with a system of managing playgrounds that has been shown to reduce confrontations, increase motor skills, reduce injuries, and maximize playground efficiency. “The program is intended to maximize the number of students involved in physical activity,” Bossenmeyer says. “Burning off energy makes kids more focused when they return to class.” The Peaceful Playgrounds program is now in use at over 7,000 schools nationwide.

The Peaceful Playgrounds program focuses on five primary components:

Involvement of all children – The first objective is to engage all children in constructive play by dispersing activities evenly across the playground. Colorful, strategically spaced markings delineate play areas, leading to a more effective utilization of available play space.
Consistent rules – Rules for all playground games are taught to all children and then stringently adhered to.
Conflict resolution strategy – The program encourages children to resolve their own conflicts, utilizing skills and approaches that are taught by their instructors.
Proper equipment – In order for games to provide the maximum benefit, children must be provided with all of the equipment necessary.
Consistent expectations – Children and instructors alike must be knowledgeable regarding the programs fundamentals and practice them consistently. The ability to play cooperatively on the playground positively impacts learning in the classroom.

All Play salutes the efforts of Dr. Bossenmeyer and the success of the Peaceful Playgrounds program. For over twenty years, All Play has supplied playground equipment and site furnishings while providing turn-key installation and design services. When you need to design a new playground or update an existing one, call us at 713-939-9888.

All Play is glad to welcome the Stewart Park project in Houston to the family. It represents a huge step for Houston as it has the very first AKWADrain system, which services as a drainage system to carry all storm water out of the surrounding concrete retaining walls and straight into the cities storm system underground. This installation also proudly features “All Inclusive” swing seats accommodate children of all ages, including infants and children with limited physical abilities. An ADA water compliant drinking fountain and new concrete pad for a park bench were also installed to round out this rewarding installation. Contact All Play today so we can help you create and share your dream installation!

To contact an All Play representative in your area, click here.

All Play January Newsletter

Linda — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:02:46 +0000

All Play January Newsletter

Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter regarding the
commercial playground industry. We hope you find the information timely and useful,
and we look forward to providing future newsletters to keep you current

with industry announcements, current products and installations.

Playgrounds where they are needed most

For more than 20 years, Canadian businessman Keith Reynolds’ work took him to a number of impoverished and war-torn regions of the world.

Speaking of his experiences while traveling to strife-ridden countries, Reynolds says, “The one thing that wasn’t changing was the children. They have nothing to do with the conflicts and they are the ones that are marginalized. You see them playing in rubble and demolished buildings and on the streets.”

In 2008, Reynolds left the corporate world and founded Playground Builders, a non-profit company that has built more than 100 playgrounds in Afghanistan, the West Bank, Gaza, and Iraq. Reynolds oversees the charity’s operations, but he does so on a volunteer basis, drawing no salary.

Reynolds says, “If we want to have a peaceful future, we have to start with the children.”

All Play salutes the fine works that Keith Reynolds and Playground Builders are doing around the world. Make your community a better place for children to play and live in, call All Play at 713-939-9888 and let us help you make a difference.

A President on Playgrounds

Following up on last month’s article concerning the history of playgrounds and their development in the early part of the twentieth century, here is an excerpt from a letter written in 1907 by President Theodore Roosevelt:

“City streets are unsatisfactory playgrounds for children because of the danger, because most good games are against the law, because they are too hot in summer, and because in crowded sections of the city they are apt to be schools of crime. Neither do small back yards nor ornamental grass plots meet the needs of any but the very small children. Older children who would play vigorous games must have places especially set aside for them; and, since play is a fundamental need, playgrounds should be provided for every child as much as schools. This means that they must be distributed over the cities in such a way as to be within walking distance of every boy and girl, as most children cannot afford to pay carfare.”

Roosevelt exhibited a lifelong commitment to physical fitness. As a child, he was small and sickly, so his father urged him to embark on a program of physical conditioning to improve his overall health. Young Roosevelt quickly took to the new regimen, eventually becoming a fine athlete while attending college at Harvard. He became an avid outdoor sportsman and an advocate of what he termed “the strenuous life.”

Roosevelt understood the importance of building young bodies and minds, and so does All Play. Call us today at 713-939-9888 to begin designing your new playground to nurture future presidents!

Playground Bullies and How to Deal with Them

Since there have been playgrounds, there have – unfortunately – been playground bullies. There are many reasons that some children bully others, including low self esteem, a dysfunctional family dynamic, and a need for attention. Fortunately, most schools are now realizing that bullying is a serious problem and are taking proactive steps to prevent it.

But what do you do when your child becomes the target of a playground bully? The website KidsHealth provides a number of good suggestions and strategies that parents can pass along to their children when they are dealing with a bully:

* Avoid the bully: Don’t give him a chance. Avoid him if you can.
* Be brave: Sometimes, just acting brave is all it takes to stop a bully, since many bullies feed on fear and insecurity. Stand tall, even if inside you may be scared.
* Look and feel your best: The more confident you feel, the less likely it is that a bully will try to pick on you.
* Find a buddy: Walk with a friend on the way to lunch and recess. Bullies tend to pick on kids who are alone.
* Be a buddy: Do what you can to stop bullying in your school. Tell an adult about the problem. Stick up for another kid who is being bullied.

All Play is committed to the both the emotional and physical safety of kids on the playground. We are your comprehensive source for playground information and expertise. Call us today at 713-939-9888.

New Playground at Humble ISD

We like to spotlight a new installation that stands out amont the many All Play installs each month.

The Humble Independent School District is one of our long-time and highly valued customers, so All Play was pleased to have the opportunity to work with this fine organization once again during the installation of a new playground at the district’s recently expanded Community Learning Center.

As with all of our clients, All Play delivered both safety and value to the client with this new installation. Working with the project architect, the SHW Group, the Humble ISD Construction Department, and DuroTech general Contractors, All Play designed a Little Tikes Commercial KidBuilders playground installation for the Learning Center. The playground is centered around the new “Maypole” component and also includes a number of accessible play panels, enabling children of all abilities to enjoy the new facility.

Each month in the newsletter, All Play spotlights exceptional installations. Call us today at 713-939-9888 for a free consultation and quote to have your playground featured!

To contact an All Play representative in your area, click here.

All Play Inc. December Newsletter

Linda — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:21:56 +0000

All Play Inc.

Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter regarding the

commercial playground industry. We hope you find the information timely and useful,

and we look forward to providing future newsletters to keep you current

with industry announcements, current products and installations.

Are Dirty Kids Smarter Kids?

Some parents despair when their children come back from the playground covered with dirt, but a new study shows that there is a beneficial microbe lurking in the dirt which may actually be good for kids.

According to research presented earlier this year at the General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in San Diego, exposure to Mycobacterium Vaccae, a bacteria commonly found in dirt, seems to increase serotonin levels in the brain, stimulating the growth of neurons and promoting emotional health by reducing anxiety levels.

Small amounts of Mycobacterium Vaccae are often inhaled by children who are playing outside, and while the thought might at first seem alarming, current studies indicate that this phenomenon is actually beneficial. In laboratory studies, mice that were fed the bacteria were able to navigate complex mazes twice as fast as those mice in a control group that were not.

“This research suggests that M. vaccae may play a role in anxiety and learning in mammals,” said Dorothy Matthews, one of the scientists who conducted the study. ”It is interesting to speculate that creating learning environments in schools that include time in the outdoors where M. vaccae is present may decrease anxiety and improve the ability to learn new tasks.”

Getting dirty is, on the whole, good clean fun. Exposure to a wide variety of microbes while children are young helps them build up their immune systems. And it is also worth noting that playing on playground equipment in the sunshine is actually quite safe, in that the ultraviolet rays destroy viral RNA. Sunshine also helps children with their Vitamin D production and destroys viruses on surfaces that are exposed to the sunlight. Of course it’s still a good idea to wash kids’ hands with soap and water after a fun romp on the playground to keep the nastier bugs away. At All Play, we have always championed the value of quality playtime spent outdoors in a natural setting. When it comes to playground equipment, we are the ones to call, at 713-939-9888.

Little Tikes Commercial is always releasing exciting new products, and you can see the latest by following the link below to an online virtual catalog. Be sure to check out the discounts and special incentives that are available for a limited time only!

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/57e5da6d#/57e5da6d/1

Playground safety is a topic of great interest to parents, and to all of us in the playground industry. The website KidsHealth.org offers a number of excellent tips to keep kids out of harm’s way on the playground.

Proper and adequate adult supervision can go a long way toward ensuring a fun and safe time for all. On a very basic level, adults can make sure that children are using playground equipment properly and not engaging in behavior that is unsafe in any fashion. And if an injury should occur, an adult can render assistance to the child and provide any necessary first aid. Additionally, younger children are not always able to properly gauge distances and heights, so it is important for adults to monitor their activities and step in if they see a child engaging in a potentially dangerous activity. Older children tend to test their limits while on the playground, and adults can help keep them in check if their play becomes too rambunctious. Of course it is important that the playground is designed so that adults can easily see children at all times.

Adults can also help to teach kids some basic safety concepts that they can put into practice while on the playground. Among the rules of responsibility which children should learn to follow:

Never push or shove other children while on climbing structures or other elevated pieces of equipment.
Always use equipment properly and in the way it was designed. Only slide feet first, don’t stand on swings, etc.
During the summertime, if a piece of equipment is hot to the touch, it might burn exposed skin and is not safe to play on until it cools down.
Don’t play on equipment that is wet, due to an increased risk of slipping or falling.
If you jump off of play equipment, be sure that no other children are underneath you and land on both feet with the knees bent slightly.
Leave bikes, backpacks, and other items away from play equipment so that no one will trip over them.
Use sunscreen when playing outside to prevent sunburn, even on cloudy days.

At All Play, safety is always priority #1. For the best – and safest – playground equipment, call us at 713-939-9888.

It seems as though playgrounds have always been a part of the urban (and suburban) landscape, but the playground as we know it had its origins in the early years of the twentieth century. As part of the drive for women’s suffrage, the Mothers’ and Children’s Movement was formed. This organization was dedicated to providing for the health, welfare and physical fitness of children. On the state level, this national movement worked to pass legislation protecting children from exploitation through child labor laws and providing public funds for the construction of public playgrounds for their use.During the 1930s, the number of playgrounds grew substantially, through a perceived need to (literally) keep children off the streets. As the industrialization and urbanization of the United States flourished, a disturbing trend emerged, that of a high number of children being run over by cars, trucks, and wagons. During this era, the classic playground design was established, featuring a collection of swings, slides, and see-saws.

Jumping forward to the present day, playgrounds have continued to evolve, providing children with a variety of fun challenges which aid in their physical and emotional development. Call All Play today to design your perfect playground at 713-939-9888.

New Playgrounds at South Acres Ranch Provide Fun for All

All Play is always installing new playgrounds, so each month we like to spotlight a new installation that we are particularly proud of.

This month, we turn our sights to South Acres Ranch, a beautiful new town home complex located in south Houston. After designing and installing a playground in Phase 1 of the development, All Play was again contracted by Hettig Construction for the recently completed Phase 2. This time, we were asked to add play areas to a large park in the middle of the complex.

All Play’s John Cole designed four play areas to fit within the park – two of them serving 2-5 year olds and the others for 5-12 year olds – utilizing the Little Tikes Commercial Kid Builder line of products for the main play structures in all areas. Highlights of the new play areas include innovative climbers and tall slides which will test the ability of older children, along with crawl tunnels and shorter slides to provide fun challenges for those in the younger age group.

Colorful Garden Grubbies by Little Tikes were incorporated into the design to encourage imaginative play, and children will now have the chance to ride “Nectar” the Bumblebee and “Gallagher” the Grasshopper. A large Dragonfly is also featured in the play areas, providing a modern interpretation of the traditional see-saw. South Acres Ranch celebrated its Grand Opening last month, and these playgrounds were truly the icing on the cake for this beautiful new neighborhood.

Each month in the newsletter, we will be spotlighting a new All Play installation. Call us today at 713-939-9888 for a free consultation and quote. You might see your playground featured here in the months ahead!

To contact an All Play representative in your area, click here.

Linda — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:24:15 +0000

ALL PLAY INC
NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER

What is High Above Determines What is Down Below

Designing a playground is fun, particularly when it comes to choosing the components that will make up the new play space. However, while it’s most enjoyable to consider swings, slides, and tunnels, an important but perhaps less exciting aspect of a new playground which is worthy of serious consideration is the surface material that will be installed under the new equipment.

An important term to know when thinking about playground surfaces is “critical fall height.” This measurement represents the distance between the highest level at which a child can stand on playground equipment and the surface below. The measurement should be taken from where the child’s feet rest on the equipment, not from the tallest point of the structure. This critical fall height is then used to determine the proper type of surface that should be installed on the playground, based on the varying levels of protection that different ground coverings can provide in the case of a fall.

The American Society for Testing Materials assigns rating for various surface materials, and it is crucial to consider these standards (currently represented in the ASTM F 1959 guidelines) when designing a new play area or renovating an existing one.

All Play offers a variety of safety surfaces for your playground, including Kiddie Cushion wood mulch, Landsoft rubber mulch, Kidtiles premier tiles, Landsoft synthetic turf, and Duraplay, a poured-in rubber surfacing. More information on each of these options is available online at http://www.allplaydoesitall.com/products/safety-surfacing. Call us today at 713-939-9888 to make sure that your playground is a safe as it can be.

Tips for an All-Inclusive Recess

Even when one is dealing with a group of great kids who get along well, problems and arguments do occasionally occur on the playground. However, there are a number of strategies which may be employed by teachers and parents to make sure that all of the children have fun during play time.

A common difficulty mentioned by educators is that sometimes certain children feel left out or alienated during recess. One of the best solutions to this problem – and a positive way to prevent hurt feelings – is to have a variety of playground equipment available, so that children have many alternatives to choose from if they might not be included in one particular activity. Slides, seesaws, and swings can provide an opportunity for smaller groups of children to play together if a large group is involved in some sort of game.

While it is usually desirable to let children sort things out for themselves, sometimes a bit of adult influence is called for. Educators note that, during recess, it is a good idea for playground supervisors to keep an eye out for shy children who may want to join in group games but don’t have the confidence or have not yet developed the socialization skills to do so effectively. In these cases, a simple request like, “You guys don’t mind if Bobby plays too?” can make playtime more of an inclusive activity and lessen any potential feelings of alienation.

Similarly, if a disagreement occurs during a game, it can be helpful for a recess monitor to suggest starting two separate games if it seems that too many children are being left out. Another workable strategy is to redirect the children’s attention to playground equipment, perhaps by suggesting a contest to see who can swing the highest. By providing a variety of choices in terms of playground equipment and related activities, most recess-related problems can be easily solved or avoided.

All Play can provide your playground with a variety of equipment which promotes individual as well as group play. Call us today at 713-939-9888 to find out more about all of the choices that are available.

Old Favorites and State of the Art, Side by Side

As the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. According to a study conducted by the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) to assess the state of playgrounds in the 21st century, much of the equipment that is seen on modern playgrounds isn’t all that different from what was in use almost 100 years ago.

In the 1920s, the National Recreation Association recommended the following playground equipment: for pre-school children, a sandbox, a small slide, a low climber, and six chair swings; for elementary school children, a large slide, a balance beam, a horizontal bar, a horizontal ladder, six swings on a large frame, a seesaw, and traveling rings.

According to the NPPS survey, the pieces of equipment most often found on modern playgrounds included:
Slides 91%
Swings 72%
Horizontal ladders 52%
Sliding poles 41%
Arch climbers 37%
Chinning bars 26%
Cargo nets 26%
Spiral climbers 25%
Seesaws 20%
Monkey bars 17%
Parallel bars 15%
Geodesic domes 15%
Merry-go-rounds 14%

One can see some differences in terminology over the years, but many – if not most – of the basic components remain the same. Of course, modern playground equipment eclipses the older apparatuses in terms of safety, both in terms of design and in terms of the materials used in construction. And in 1920, who could have foreseen the introduction of components like climbing walls or the availability of playground equipment in a variety of creative themes ranging for tropical forests to castles and trains to fire engines?

Call All Play today at 713-939-9888 to find out more about the extensive lines of play equipment that we carry – everything from old favorites to state of the art!

A “Dream Come True” in Missouri City

All Play is always installing new playgrounds, so each month we like to spotlight a new installation that we are particularly proud of.

This month, we will focus on a playground that we installed just recently in Lexington Place, a small subdivision located just south of Houston in Missouri City, TX. Most of the residents in this community are professionals with young children. With so many kids living in the area, it was obvious that this development, featuring beautiful, well-maintained homes, needed a playground.

The obvious site choice for the playground was the Lexington Place Community Park. Approximately 18 months ago, a group of Lexington Place residents came to All Play for help in realizing their vision. After many conversations and a great deal of thought, a plan was formulated and approved, and then the All Play construction crew set to work. “We sat and listened to what they wanted and designed something special just for them,” said All Play’s Peter Anderson. “Now, when you stop by this recently vacant piece of land, you will hear the happy sounds of children as they play on their ‘Dream Come True.’”

Frankie Carter Randolph Park

mike@allplayinc.com — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:37:24 +0000

Randolph Park

Friendswood, Texas (Harris County)

All Play Representative: Mike Feidler

All Play, Inc does more than just playgrounds. Here at Harris County Randolph Park ,5150 FM 2351 Rd, Friendswood, TX 77546 we have just installed new tables. These high quality durable outdoor tables are made by WebCoat and offer the perfect solution to your outdoor seating needs. 6′, 8′, ADA accessible, we offer them all!

All Play October Newsletter

Linda — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:26:54 +0000

All Play October Newsletter

Study Finds That “Tag Is It”

While some school districts have banned the game of tag during recess due to its potential to cause physical and psychological injury, a new study indicates that the game may be among the most beneficial playground activities in terms of combating childhood obesity.

The study, published in the American Journal of Pediatrics, measured the energy expenditures and perceived enjoyment of 28 third graders while the children engaged in 30 common playground games. After analysis, it became apparent that “tag” style games ranked the highest in both categories.

The study’s senior investigator, Stavroula Osganian, explains, “Tag type games involve frequent and short bouts of intense running and thus can result in high levels of physical exertion. They also require less skill than other games, so all children can feel comfortable participating or playing in this type of game.”

The study seems to support the argument that students garner a number of benefits from recess and structured playtime during the school day. “Recess can offer an important opportunity for young children to engage in games that expend significant amounts of energy while having fun,” Osganian notes. “This could potentially help prevent the development or persistence of obesity, especially in schools with children at higher risk.”
All Play offers a variety of playground equipment that can help children get the most out of recess, in terms of both fun and fitness. Call us today at 713-939-9888 for a free consultation and quote.

Children Crave Sense of Freedom During Play Time

At All Play, all of the playground equipment that we sell is designed to foster the imagination of children, exercising both their brain and bodies while at the same time providing a playtime experience that is both safe and fulfilling. This important issue – the balance between safety and fun – is currently a hot topic within the industry

Despite having access to a greater variety of play equipment than previous generations, what contemporary children are missing out on during play time outdoors is a sense of freedom, according to landscape architect Fiona Robbe, who is quoted in a recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Over the past two decades, playground design has been driven more by a sense of fear than a pursuit of fun, according to Robbe. For instance, shrubs, tunnels, and cubby holes disappeared due to a desire to see children at all times. Sandboxes also tended to fall by the wayside, for fear that dangerous items might be concealed in them. As an outgrowth of the industry focus on safety, numerous governmental rules and restrictions were subsequently put in place to reduce the probability of injury. The prevailing attitude was that children must be protected against any eventuality, lest something bad happen to them. ”It was a thoughtful response to a stack of injuries,” Robbe says, ”But it has also created, quite possibly, an overemphasis on the importance of that.”

Playground designer Ric McConaghy observes that even those who were early and zealous proponents of highly rigorous playground safety standards have come to the conclusion that the pendulum needs to swing just a bit in the opposite direction. ”They’ve all come around and said, ‘Look, we recognize that bumps and scrapes and bruises are part of growing up, and if we don’t give kids the opportunity to do those things, then they don’t gain the competencies we want them to develop,”’ he says.

With regard to the current state of the playground art, landscape architect Sacha Coles notes, “Now we have better technology to create more interesting equipment and a large body of research proving the benefits of doing this. Play is no longer regarded as a pastime. It has come to be viewed as an elemental part of childhood, valuable in its own right, but also a vital way of processing and learning about the world.”

The more fun and freedom that kids can experience on playgrounds, the experts conclude, the better off they will be in terms of physical, psychological, and emotional health.

At All Play, we can provide you with the highest-quality playground equipment featuring the latest innovations in the industry. And rest assured that, because the safety of children is our number one priority, every product sold by All Play is in full compliance with current safety regulations. Please give us a call today at 713-939-9888 for a free consultation and quote.

“Inclusive” Playgrounds Provide Fun for Children of All Abilities

A welcome trend over the past few years in the world of playgrounds is the development of the “inclusive” playground, a facility designed to allow disabled youngsters and other children to play side by side.

Louisville, KY is a city at the forefront of this movement, now boasting two such parks, with ground broken at a third facility in late September. The new play area will feature swings, slides, and a variety of other equipment on four different levels, all connected by a series of ramps with handrails to allow access for disabled children. Transfer stations are also a key part of the design, providing areas where children can easily be moved from a wheelchair to a piece of play equipment.

With the benefits and worth of playground activities firmly established, it is important that these resources are available to all children, including those who are disabled. All Play has access to the best products in the industry from a vast network of suppliers, and they can help you design your own “inclusive” playground. Get in touch with one of our consultants today at 713-939-9888 and start making playground fun within reach for all children.

The All Play Spotlight

All Play is always installing new playgrounds, so each month we like to spotlight a new installation that we are particularly proud of.

This month, we will focus on Broadway Elementary School in Spring, Texas. Taking advantage of a special promotion offered by Little Tikes Commercial through All Play, the school’s PTO was able to add a PlayBuilder structure to the existing playground equipment. The structure is designed for children 5-12 years of age and features a variety of climbers, activity panels, and slides.

“Although it took several fundraisers and a lot of hard work, the members of the Broadway PTO were able to get exactly what they wanted,” said school spokesman John Cole. “The students were so excited to see the newest addition to their playground. The natural color scheme selected by the PTO fits in well with the beautiful new school as well as the existing KidBuilder structure previously installed by All Play.”

One component of the new installation that is receiving a lot of attention is the Tikes Peak rock climber, which offers children with a realistic climbing experience. The unit allows students to climb on top or to seek shade underneath. “Students love the physical challenge it presents,” Cole said.

Each month in the newsletter, we will be spotlighting a new All Play installation. Who knows, you might see your playground featured here in the months ahead!
As part of an ongoing effort to provide our customers with the best possible value, All Play is extending a special offer throughout the month of October. For each $10,000 spent on playground equipment, All Play will include a top-quality six-foot vinyl coated bench with the order, free of charge. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Call us today at 713-939-9888 for all the details.

Big Blessings for Little Blessings Preschool

mike@allplayinc.com — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:09:13 +0000

Little Blessings Daycare

La Porte, Texas (Harris County)

All Play Representative: Mike Feidler

The Little Blessings Preschool and First United Methodist Church of LaPorte have completed their playground. They started this process by meeting with Mike Feidler their All Play, Inc sales representative and drawing up the perfect playground to fit their needs.

It’s a Little Tikes Commercial PlayBuilders playground. It includes activities for children ages 2-12 years old. The kids begin their exploration as they climb up the rocky rambler and then continue through the elevated crawl tubes. A quick exit is provided by a double wide slide allowing the kids to race down it. If it’s more challenge they desire then continue the climb past the bubble window and down the twisty spiral slide.

Safety and durability are built in to this project. The playground surfacing in Pour in Place rubber and is specifically designed for playground safety surface. This material provides the most durable impact attenuation available and it looks great! Incorporated around the outside is a tricycle path for future drivers.

The final addition to Little Blessings Preschool is a Little Tikes Commercial Tot Tree. This is the perfect play piece for the littlest of their children. Congratulations to the church and daycare for providing the best for their little blessings!

Laughter in the air

peter@allplayinc.com — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:15:41 +0000

Lexington Place

Missouri City, TX (Fort Bend County)
All Play Representative: Peter Anderson

Lexington Place is a small subdivision located just south of Houston in Missouri City, Texas. The neighborhood is newer and made up of families with a lot of young children. With beautiful, well maintained homes, the only thing they lacked was a playground in the Community Park. A year and a half ago they came to All Play for our help in putting their dreams of a new playground down on paper. We sat and listened to what they wanted and designed something special just for them. It took time, a lot of work, smart budgeting and a vision for the neighborhood. Now, when you stop by the recently vacant piece of land, you will hear the happy sounds of children as they play on their “Dream Come True”.