How Safe Is Rubber Mulch Playground Surfacing?

How Safe Is Rubber Mulch Playground Surfacing?

When you think back to your time in elementary school, you probably think about all the fun games you would play at recess. You may think about how the pieces of black rubber that you would run and roll around on would get into your pockets after you came inside. Schools have also always been interested largely in the safety of the students that attend them, which made using soft playground surfacing to catch them when they fall a no brainer.

“Rubber mulch also had multiple other benefits, as it would not soak up water when it rained, meaning it would keep up with their play longer than wood mulch would.”

However, it also stained the floors and walls of the school and can even end up in parents washing machines at the end of the day.

Sof Fall is proud to offer one of the safest rubber mulches in the world. When playground surfacing can mean the difference in a small scratch and a serious injury we are proud to be there to catch children everywhere when they fall down.

Currently, there have been more proof uncovered that points to the rubber mulch not being such a safe playground surfacing material after all. Rubber mulch is made of recycled tires, which is good for the environment, but bad for health. There isn’t an issue with the tires themselves, but the things that they come into contact with. When they are carved into small pieces, they are not cleaned. This means that anything they once touched is still being poured directly into the children’s place areas on the outside of the playground surfacing materials. Heavy metals, oils, lead contaminants from paint on the roads, and petrochemicals are the names of a few of these contaminants. In heated temperatures, they begin to leak out into the air.

In a study by Environment and Human Health, Inc. in conjunction with Yale University, they showed up to 96 different chemicals in the mulch. Some of the names of these items sound more like they should be locked somewhere safe, rather than in contact with children’s skin. Some cause asthma while others could irritate their eyes and lungs when left alone to heat up under the sun.

Safe Playground Surfacing

One man in Arizona was particularly upset by these findings. As a father and maintenance foreman of more than one school himself, he knew that he had to change the way that they were softening the children’s falls. He decided to try out new material, Jelly Bean play mulch. This was a much more safe playground surfacing material as it is latex-free and sterile. It didn’t take long after replacing one school’s mulch for the news to spread which lead to the replacement of all the other schools within the district. After switching to the other playground surfacing materials, they saw great results. The different colored pieces didn’t heat up in the sun like the tire had and there were no more black streaks. It is also soft playground surfacing, meaning that it was just as safe for the children to fall on as the previous mulch had been.

Nevertheless, there is a downside to using the new version of mulch: the cost. While it is the best option for children’s health, most schools have a tight budget that they must stick to. Jelly Bean mulch has proven to be extremely cost-effective, however, as it does not need to be replaced as often. It is also almost completely maintenance-free, as it is only necessary to rake the mulch back into the play area if the children were to kick some of it out

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Things To Look For When Buying Playground Surfacing

Things To Look For When Buying Playground Surfacing

Playground surfacing is a very important part of a playground. Indeed, there is an argument to be made that it is the most important part. What are children fall down on can be the difference between a small bump and a serious injury. 

“How can we expect city planners, school districts, or anyone building a playground to make the right choice in playground surfacing if they don’t know what truly makes for a safe playground surface.”

Knowing what to look for when buying soft playground surfacing is essential to actually completing that goal.  Here are the things we think that you should look out for when you are looking to buy playground surfacing. 

Playground surfacing is the most important element in the overall safety of a playground.

The best way to summarize what you need to know when you are looking for safe playground surfacing is what questions you need to ask. Asking the right questions will prove extremely helpful especially when you have playground safety in mind. Here are some questions you might want to consider:

  • What is the playground material made of?
  • Is this playground material soft or hard?
  • Does this playground surfacing come with any kind of warranty?
  • What is the fall protection of this surface?
  • How will this playground surface react when wet?
  • What is the maintenance like with this kind of playground material?

Different Playground Surfacing Materials

An important thing to consider when buying new playground surfacing is the material that the surface will be made out of. Some surfaces like cement, asphalt, and dirt are just obvious bad choices. It might be a little cheaper but they are extremely more dangerous. Finding a good playground surface material doesn’t have to be hard. Soft playground surfacing doesn’t have to break the bank either. Safe playground materials come at a reasonable price that is definitely worth the cost.

Engineered wood fibers are the safest material for playground surfacing. They provide an excellent fall protection and they are the best at catching our kids when they fall. Not only this but they are easy to maintain. Where some playground materials crack, dry-out, or need resurfacing, the maintenance on this is a refill as often as needed. Our professionals are here to help with that so that playground surface maintenance is as easy as possible. 

Cost

We know that you are already fixating on the cost of your playground materials. The best advice we can give you is don’t just look at the upront cost. If that was the case then you would just leave the dirt or rocks you set the swing set on top of and call it good. Think about the children who will be playing on it. Think about the costs of years of maintenance and repairs. Overall, consider how much playground safety is really worth to you. We know you’ll make the right decision. 

We've been catching children when they fall for over 27 Years

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Benefits of Rubber Bark For Playgrounds

Benefits of Rubber Bark For Playgrounds

There are several benefits of rubber bark for playgrounds. They all have their benefits but some are better than others. Playground safety is extremely important so having good rubber bark for playgrounds can make a huge difference. 

Different Types Of Rubber Bark

The first benefit of a safe playground surface like rubber bark is that it is going to come in a variety of different colors and types. This means that it will fit into how you are going to want the playground to look. The best part is that it is going to be able to maintain a vibrancy and brightness while enduring all of the little feet stomping on it. This is important for both aesthetic and safety. 

“Rubber bark can be the safest material for our children to play on if we do it right and install it where we should.”

Engineered wood-fibers (rubber bark) has the potential to be the safest option for playground surfacing ever.

Maintenance

The second benefit of the engineered wood fibers is that they are not going to require a lot of maintenance. There are three main things that you will have to do a on a regular basis to make sure that they are going to last you for a long period of time. The first thing is to sweep the area. This is the best way to make sure that no dirt and debris is going to stick to the rubber bark. Plus, the children are going to be safe from things that they might pick up. The second thing is to pressure wash it on an occasion.

This can scrub away any of the grime that can accumulate on the surface on it. This is going to be especially true when the children are going to be playing on a daily basis. The third thing is to remove any filth that you see on the playground immediately. Oil from children and gum will need to be removed as soon as possible before they stick to the surface because they are easier to remove when they are fresh.

Seasons

The third benefit of a safe playground surface is that it is going to be able to last through all of the different seasons. This means that it will withstand any element like wind, rain, hail, or snow. It is more dense in weight so it is even going to stay strong if it happens to flood. This is going to be a lot better than some of the materials that can be used in a playground. The other materials are just going to scatter when it is exposed to the elements. The rubber bark is not going to have the same effect so you are going to be able to cleanup the playground in no time.

Shock

The fourth benefit of the engineered wood fibers is that is going to be shock absorbent. This is something that you are going to want for a playground where the children are going to be jumping around from the high places all of the time. This means that the children are going to be able to receive fewer injuries if they fall. This is even better if you have a basketball goal on the playground. Children are going to be able to find an easier time dribbling ball on this type of surface.

These are the top four benefits of installing the rubber bark inside of your playground for the children.

 

 

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Ways to Keep Kids Active During the Winter

Ways to Keep Kids Active During the Winter

What do you think of when winter comes to mind? It might be relaxing evenings sipping hot chocolate in front of the fireplace as snow falls outside your window. In most cases, these images, while pleasant, are usually not very active ones, and those types of images should be in mind too. Although the weather outside may not seem like the type to encourage exercise, you should anyway. One of the best ways to make this a lifetime habit for your children is to ensure that they’re active during this time of year from early on.

Go Outside!

This seems so simple. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t necessarily mean that you and your children need to solely engage in indoor activities. Of course, if the temperatures are starting to dip well below zero, then you might want to reassess the situation. Otherwise, bundle up. Get them in a hat, thick socks, boots and gloves. Also keep in mind that simply moving will help keep their heart rates and body temperatures raised. 

The benefits of going to playgrounds and playing outside are undisputed. Exercise is an amazing way to increase creativity and learning capability in our children. All the soft playground materials and playground safety will do no good unless we are able to keep our kids active during the winter. 

Playground Safety Tips for the winter

If your young ones want to play on a playground during this time of the year, they can as long as you engage in some playground safety. For example, while dressing them warmly, skip the scarf. That can get tangled within playground equipment. Inspect the equipment for ice and snow and how those might have affected it. Avoid a playground entirely if slippery conditions exist.

“We have to be reasonable, kids aren’t going to want to spend hours outside this winter since that safe playground surfacing is now frozen. But, if do it right they can have safe fun at a playground despite the cold weather.”

Exercise Indoors 

It can be great to be active in your own home. You can have a dance competition. If you have a treadmill or workout equipment at home, you can have your children use those if they’re old enough to. Engaging in yoga is another activity that can be done in your own home. However, it’s helpful to avoid cabin fever and regularly get out and about and head elsewhere. Some away-from-home indoor options that are especially popular this time of year include skating rinks, basketball courts, bowling alleys and swimming pools.

Give Your Animals Some Exercise Too

If your children are old enough, have them regularly take your dog on a walk. Make sure to supervise if they’re not old enough to go on their own, but, if they’re able, allow them to handle the responsibilities with your oversight. This will provide both the canines and the children who you care for to get some well-needed exercise. Let your pet run around and enjoy being outside. That soft playground surfacing can be fun for them even if it is below freezing. 

Gaming

Yes, you read that right. Gaming can provide a significant amount of physical activity for children. Although most games are focused on exercising the mind, a few have physical activity at the forefront of what they offer. Options include PlayStation Move, Xbox One Kinect and Nintendo Wii. It should be noted that children who participate in these games tend to start to exercise in other ways too.

However, with that said, do make sure to limit non-exercise-related screen time. It’s fine to allow children to enjoy screen time since much of it does help strengthen the brain, but it should be limited.

We've been catching children when they fall for over 27 Years

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Playground Trends From The Last Year

Playground Trends From The Last Year

A playground is a must in any community. Playgrounds are an ideal place for parents to gather as their kids play. Modern playground designs take many factors into account as the process of creating a play space takes shape. Parents and kids want a space that’s easy to use and one that makes kids happy.

“They also want a space that allows all the kids to engage in creative play and helps spark their imagination”

Playground safety with the use of the right surfacing is an essential quality. Modern structures are also using playground surfacing that is compliant with laws that allow all kinds, even those with disabilities, to use them. Help from soft playground surfacing can encourage kids to relax and enjoy all that the playground has to offer.

We want to make sure that as trends emerge in playgrounds all over the country that those trends are geared toward safer playground for our children to play on.

Updated Traditional Style

Parents and kids alike tend to be drawn to the classics on the playground. They love swings and slides. At the same time, designers have been looking for ways to take that idea in new and amazing directions. For example, designers are taking the concept of a playspace and turning it into a fabulous pirate ship or making it into a whimsical firehouse. The goal is to encourage creative play and help kids see the world in a new way. The goal is also to encourage kids to use all of the senses including sight and hearing. To that end, designers are showing off elements such as embedded musical instruments that kids can press to get different types of musical tones.

Trending Towards Safety

While designers want to encourage kids to explore, they also want to make sure all kids are safe as they do so. Playground safety continues to be a priority for parents and playground designers today. Many elements can be put in place in order to accomplish this plan for all kids. The use of soft playground surfacing helps kids play with abandon while allowing parents to feel confident there’s no danger at the playground. Playground surfacing options that are safe also encourage kids to make friends and feel confident when they explore the rest of the world.

So Many Possibilities

Modern playground designers can work very closely to get them the results they want most. For example, if a condo only has a small space to devote to a playground, the designer can come up with an innovative way to use it to best advantage. It also does not have to cost a lot of money. Many playground designers can get impressive results with a relatively small budget. They can also take a larger vision and bring it to life in every respect. The Mall of America has a playground that delights children as it rises four stories from the ground. Little details like the use color. Bright colors can help show off the best details of the structures anyone has in mind. It’s all possible when you work with a skilled and company devoted to helping all children dream

We've been catching children when they fall for over 27 Years

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