Time outdoors is highly beneficial for children, as proven by various studies indicating that time in nature can help kids with; better cognitive development, learning ability, immune system strength, emotional regulation, lower levels of stress, healthier weight and even the ability to avoid chronic illness. So, playtime really is important for kids on many levels, much of which they have no idea about because they’re far too busy having fun.
Give a child any outdoor space and they will find a way to have fun because their imaginations are huge. However, there are ways to increase the fun and the learning potential of the playground even more, along with the use of playground equipment. With just one easy adjustment, you can turn the playground into a bustling hive of activity, excitement and learning.
That one easy adjustment? Thermoplastic markings.
What Are Thermoplastic Markings?
Thermoplastic markings are a durable, strong surface marking made from solid powder paint. It’s heated up and then sprayed onto a suitable surface before quickly cooling down, where it will then last season after season without fading.
This is in contrast to traditional paint markings, which can fade after just one season of strong sunshine, or lots of rain. The results of painted markings are also never as precise or bright as thermoplastic markings, and the paint leaches into the environment too, which can never be a good thing.
Why Choose Thermoplastic Markings For A Playground?
A playground can often be very tired and grey looking, with concrete or asphalt creating an aesthetic that doesn’t reflect the vibrancy of the kids that use the area to play and learn. Adding thermoplastic markings breathes new life into any playground, transforming the space into a bright, beautiful, engaging environment full of attractive colors, patterns and shapes.
Thermoplastic markings do far more than liven up the way a playground looks, too. They come in a vast array of different colors, styles and designs including:
- Games (board games, courts, mazes, targets, traditional games)
- Educational (letters, numbers and grids)
- Trails and tracks (daily mile tracks, fitness trails)
- Shapes and prints
- Characters (mini beasts, dinosaurs, friends, animals)
These shapes and designs provide a plethora of benefits to the children who use them. They encourage socializing, exercise, learning how to share, academic subject awareness and imaginative play. They are also great for integrating into a lesson plan, where outdoor learning and play could help children to take on a subject in a different way.
Why Not Take The Next Step To Installing Long-Lasting Thermoplastic Markings In Your Playground?
If you would love to beautify the outdoor area in your school, or a public space you’re renovating, it’s worth considering thermoplastic markings. They are incredibly cost-effective, quick to install (can be ready to use in as little as 30 minutes), come in a huge range of designs and colors, and they will last season after season, year after year.
Using an expert playground markings company to prepare the area, design and lay the markings, the children in your care can enjoy bright, exciting playground patterns every playtime, to give them endless developmental benefits, and of course, hours of fun.