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The Benefits of Playground Slides: How Does a Slide Help a Child's Development?

We want to provide you all of the information you need about playground slides prior to your online purchase: At AAA State of Play, we want you to feel confident when purchasing your next playground slide. An educated consumer is our best customer, so at AAA State of Play, we make sure that you have all of the facts before you buy one of our commercial playground slides and swing sets. Choosing the right playground slide can ensure the safety of the children using the playground equipment. Slides can make the design for your playground attractive and loads of fun! Let's review the different types and benefits of playground slides to give you valuable information to help you make your next commercial playground slide purchase easy.



Slide Types and Variations

Commercial playground slides are one of the most common types of playground equipment. Slide components are fairly standard: There is a raised platform and a ramp, called a chute, that children slide down. The two types of slide construction are freestanding slides, which are not attached to other playground equipment, and composite slides, which connect to other playground equipment. Slides vary in height and are usually made of stainless steel or plastic, and they are often brightly colored to coordinate with other playground equipment like swings or play structures. Slide chutes have many different designs: Straight, wavy, spiral, parallel (side-by-side), and tunnel are some well-known variations of commercial playground slide chutes. When placed in a well-constructed playground design, they are known to be one of the most popular playground attractions for children, but they also have a number of other great benefits. Let's look at three of the biggest pluses for adding a slide to your playground design.

Benefits of Slides:

  1. Promote Balance and Coordination: When a child climbs up a slide and then successfully positions and pushes themselves down the chute, they are building valuable balance and coordination skills. Additionally, it helps children develop spacial awareness, as they have to judge when it is a good time to slide and when to put their feet down once they reach the bottom of the chute.

  2. Present Healthy Physical Challenges: Climbing up ladders over and over again and sliding down is fun, but it is also hard work! Children build both upper and lower body strength as they pull themselves up and step up the rungs of a ladder. This means increased strength, healthy cardiovascular exercise, and the support and development of lean muscle.

  3. Encourage Positive Social Skill Development: Everyone always wants to use the slide! Why? Because they're so much fun! At a busy playground, the slide is always the focus of most of the attention, which means there will always be a bit of a wait to use it. When kids are playing together, the slide is a great way to foster important social skills like cooperative play, sharing, taking turns, and learning patience and tolerance of others' skills and physical abilities. These skills will have a lasting impact on their social interactions as they continue to develop, and all they know is that they're having a great time!

Now that you know so much more about slides and all of the benefits they bring to your playground design, you can shop with confidence. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our customer service representatives with any questions, and remember that all of AAA State of Play's equipment comes with a one-year warranty to ensure that you receive a product that is of the highest quality for the greatest value.

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Find more about the author: Kim Hart


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