Sliding
Definition: Structures designed for sliding down fixed tracks or slopes under the influence of gravity.
Straight slides, spiral slides, tube slides, wide slide, wave slides, hillside slides, rainbow slides, and slide sections in combination slides.
Elevated courses with harnesses or handles.
Swinging
Definition: Recreational equipment that creates back-and-forth or rotational motion, offering experiences of centrifugal force and weightlessness.
Traditional swings, tire swings, hammock swings, specialty swings, hanging basket swings, rocking chair swings
- Spring Riders / Rocking Horses
Animal or vehicle-shaped riders with a spring base, allowing children to sit and rock back and forth or side to side.
Two or more people cooperate, using their weight and pushing force (with legs) to move up and down.
- Swinging Rings,Wooden Swinging Bridge
- Pirate Ship Swing
A large swinging platform, often themed like a pirate ship.
Crawling
Definition: Low-body movement-based facilities emphasizing crawling, climbing, and tunneling.
Linear, curved, or wavy tubes for children to crawl through.
Tunnel structures made from rope nets.
Enclosed spaces encouraging exploration through crawling.
Climbing
Definition: Vertical or inclined structures that challenge users to move upward against gravity.
- Climbing Frames/Jungle Gyms
Multi-dimensional metal or wooden structures.
- Climbing Walls/Bouldering Walls
Vertical or sloped walls equipped with handholds and footholds.
Rope net structures in pyramid, spiderweb, or other shapes.
- Climbing Poles/Wall Bars:
Vertical poles or ladder-like structures.
- Arch Climbers
- Tire Climbers:
Climbing structures built from stacked or arranged used tires.
Various types of ladders, often part of modular play systems.
Obstacle
Definition: Series of barriers or challenges requiring users to climb over, crawl under, or maneuver around.
Pathways combining elements such as tire arrays, balance beams, low hurdles, crawl nets, etc.
Platforms or posts at varying heights and distances, requiring stepping or jumping.
- Tire Jumps,Hexagon Net, Jungle Net, Wobble Bridge, Jump Bars, Crawl Tubes, Jungle Trails, Rope Walks
Balancing
Definition: Equipment requiring users to maintain body stability and control their center of gravity.
Beams or platforms of various widths and heights.
- Wobbly Bridges/Rope Bridges
Suspended bridges that sway during use.
- Balance Discs/Wobble Boards
Standable discs or boards used for balance training.
Also categorized under balancing, requiring careful steps between platforms.
- Slacklines (Low or Simplified Version)
Walking on low-tension flat ropes.
Rotating/Spinning
Definition: Equipment rotating around a central axis, creating circular motion.
Rotating platforms where children can stand or sit, manually powered.
Single or multi-person spinning seats.
Pushing/Pulling
Definition: Interactive equipment activated by human force such as pushing, pulling, or pedaling.
- Bumper Cars,Seesaws,Group Swings,Rocking Rides
Bouncing/Jumping
Definition: Equipment utilizing elastic materials to enable jumping and rebounding.
- Trampolines,Mini Bounce Areas,Inflatable Castles,Hopping Horses
Sound-Making
Definition: Equipment generating sound through hitting, clapping, friction, or voice.
- Outdoor Musical Instruments,Yelling Fountains,Music Walls,Percussion Instruments
- Foot-Activated Sound Mats
Mats that emit sounds when stepped on.
- Speaking Tubes/Voice Scramblers
Devices that transmit voices from one end to another.
Striking/Hitting
Definition: Equipment activated by striking, hitting, or tapping actions.
- Quick Hands Game,Whac-A-Mole,Beach Volleyball,Sand Bags
Exploration
Definition: Immersive environments centered around discovery, problem-solving, and sensory engagement, often incorporating natural or thematic elements.
- Play Structures/Castle Play Zones
Including castles, flying castles, large climbing nets.
- Archimedes Water Screw
- Sensory Walls/Activity Panels
Panels featuring different textures, rotating parts, small mazes, etc.
Playgrounds using natural materials like logs, stumps, stones, and plants.
- Water Play Zones (Water Castles)
- Sandboxes/Sand Pits
Areas filled with sand and digging tools for creative and sensory play.
- Water Tables
- Water Channels/Pump Play Areas
Manual pumps, sluices, water wheels for guiding water flow
Pathways formed by hedges, fences, or low walls.
- Speaking Tubes
- Drum Tubes
- Playhouses/Cubby Houses
Encouraging imaginative play and role-playing.
Written By
Angelica Tongyao
Angelica is the Director of Content Marketing at tongyao with over a decade of experience in content writing. She specializes in creating custom content for research projects, thesis, and reports, and is skilled in 3D modeling, rendering, and designing innovative products for playground equipment.