The world is increasingly digital these days, making outdoor playspaces more important than ever. Research extending over many years has shown that the benefits of including outdoor play in the lives of young children can’t be overstated.
If you’re planning your first natural playground, you probably have a few questions about the playground building process. You might also be wondering what questions to ask your playground provider before making a commitment.
This story is dedicated to unpacking some of the most essential questions. Whether you’re putting together an outdoor educational playspace, a natural playground, or upgrading an early childhood centre, school, or public park, here is what you need to know.
1. What experience do you have with building outdoor playspaces?
One of the first and most important questions to ask your playground builder is how much experience they have, particularly with custom-designed playspaces. You want a team that can dream alongside you and has the skill to execute those plans to perfection!
Your specialist playground builder should be able to:
- Share examples of past projects, especially in educational settings.
- Demonstrate how their designs support structured and unstructured learning for kids of your target age group.
- Offer insights into how kids interact with different types of nature-based equipment and spaces.
At Playscape, for instance, we co-design our natural outdoor playspaces with the centres, schools and educators we partner with. This ensures that every design element aligns with the curriculum and supports key developmental milestones.
2. How do you make playspaces safe and accessible for kids?
Safety is non-negotiable when it comes to outdoor play and learning. To truly support children’s development, your playground builder must follow all relevant New Zealand safety standards and go beyond compliance to actively minimise risks for the children using the space.
One of the most common concerns when designing outdoor classrooms is ensuring safe, inclusive access for children with diverse needs. That’s why it’s essential to choose a playground builder who embraces a universal design approach. Here are a few key questions to ask:
- How do you select fall zones and surfacing?
- Are your designs wheelchair and pushchair accessible?
- Do you cater for inclusive outdoor play for children of all abilities?
If you are unsure where to start, your playground builder should be able to guide you through the design and build process, so don’t fear asking these questions!
3. What does your playground building process look like?
Let’s talk playground building process! Understanding each stage helps you see how involved you’ll be—from shaping the initial concept and incorporating key developmental goals to approving the final design.
It’s also a great opportunity to ask your playground builder questions about materials, sustainability, and the types of play and learning the space will support. Here are a few useful questions to bring to your consultation:
- What types of play and learning opportunities do you prioritise in your playground designs?
- Are your materials locally sourced or recycled where possible?
- Do you provide a maintenance guide or plan?
- How involved are your clients in the design process?
4. How can you incorporate natural elements into the design?
Outdoor playspaces have come a long way from the standard metal frames of traditional schoolyards. Natural play areas are growing in popularity thanks to their calming, sensory-rich environments. They also beautifully align with ethical and sustainable values. When you’re in the quoting or planning stage, consider asking:
- Can you include natural features like logs, rocks, or gardens?
- How do you design for seasonal changes and promote biodiversity?
- Will the space attract native birds, insects, or plants?
Integrating nature into the playground not only supports learning and wellbeing, but it also encourages children to connect with Aotearoa’s unique ecosystems. If your playground builder values biophilic design, they should be able to integrate natural elements without compromising on safety.
At the end of the day, creating an outdoor learning space that truly supports children’s development starts with asking the right questions. A great playground builder won’t just answer them—they’ll welcome them and ask insightful questions of their own.
Imagination has no rules. Let’s build your destination playscape!
Whether you’re building an educational landscape or erecting a community playground, we’re here to make the process easy and FUN! We at Playscape are the nature-based experts who can design and build any play space for early childcare, schools, and the public.
Let’s bring your natural playspace to life. Reach out to book a consultation with us today!