PBS 140 Child Care Center Design Guide - The Whole Building ...

current edition of Handbook for Public Playground Safety, issued by the
Consumer Product Safety Commission and conforming to the other
documents cited in 6.3.
No treated wood materials are to be used on the play yard. No wood
treated with pentachlorophenol or creosote should be used anywhere on
the site. Instead, maximize the use of products made from recycled plastic
or recycled plastic/wood composite materials, which are inherently durable
and weather-resistant, for benches, etc. Following EPA’s Comprehensive
Procurement Guidelines (CPG), playground equipment should be made
from a structural grade material containing a minimum of 95% postconsumer
High Density Polyithylene plastic (i.e., milk jugs). The remaining
5% should consist of resins and fibers for strength, and the same color
should be throughout the product. The product also needs to include UV
inhibitors for longevity.
6.4.8 Storage:
Storage facilities should be easily discernible and have a unique, easily
understood symbol indicating the contents. Storage facilities provide an
opportunity for children to learn organization and cooperation skills. Children
acquire a sense of responsibility by learning to return toys and tools, under
the direction of the caregiver, to the correct storage areas when they are
finished playing.
There must be visibility and ventilation into the storage area. Exterior storage
must be equipped with locks that operate at the exterior of the door but will
not allow children to be trapped inside the structure.
6.5 Types of Outdoor Play Areas
6.5.1 Sand and Water Play:
Sand and water play facilities allow children to pretend and project their
ideas in a real and physical way. These facilities enhance children’s abilities
for make believe play, and to further develop social skills and must be
accessible to all children. Sand and water tables should have play surfaces
at children’s height, allowing them to dip out a portion of sand or water onto
a stable surface. Allow play space and storage for props such as spoons,
shovels, pails, plastic vehicles and animals, containers, and buckets. These
props add greatly to the quality of play experiences. The need for a child
scaled drinking fountain on the playground should be determined during
design. In particularly warm areas, there will be a greater need for water
PBS-140 - July 2003
CHAPTER 6: SITE DESIGN
fountains. In addition, provide a hose bib connection for water play and for
filling wading pools, accessible from the circulation path. Metal water
fountains require shade as they can become quite hot in full sun locations
and children could be burned. It is also desirable to emphasize the source
of the water, making it a design “event,” a symbolically important part of
the play yard.
6.5.2 Dramatic Play:
Dramatic play is the most dynamic activity in the play yard, often using
many different areas of the play yard as stage settings. Ample opportunities
should be provided, allowing children to engage in role playing and make
believe activities. Playhouse structures should have seating. Adequate
play areas and storage should be provided to allow use of a wide variety of
props. These items include elements such as boards, scrap lumber, dressup
clothes, cooking utensils, tarpaulin, banners, signs, and other items
that help ensure the high quality of dramatic play. The props should be
easily moved and incorporated into play activities. The dramatic play area
should be adjacent to and incorporate paths and parking areas for wheeled
toys. Change of level greatly enhances the quality of dramatic play as it
allows for a “king of the mountain” experience which is a universally popular
theme in children’s play.
6.5.3 Large Motor Play:
Large motor play areas provide for the physical development of children.
These areas should offer opportunities for climbing and riding wheeled
toys, as well as running, jumping, sliding, and balancing. Fixed equipment
such as a superstructure play piece and slides encourage children to explore
the limits of their physical abilities through varying levels of difficulty and
challenge. Berms that create small hills also provide challenge, and are
cost effective. They also provide visual interest and can help add a needed
connection to nature.
The degree of difficulty, challenge, or risk must be obvious to children
involved in any given activity. Recognizable challenge or risk is good, but
hidden or unforeseen risk is dangerous and often results in injuries. For
this reason, the play yard should not contain metal slides (which can burn
children when they become hot), enclosed tunnel slides (which make
observation difficult and can allow one climbing child above the enclosed
tunnel to fall on top of another at the tunnel exit), traditional see-saws (which
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