The Benefit of Rope Play & Playgrounds In Schools

Rope climbing play structures

Rope climbing structures are growing in popularity amongst schools because they are a safe means of providing the much-loved climbing function.

While other static playground equipment provides enormous play value, no equipment allows children to climb so freely and high as rope structures do.

Rope play equipment developmental benefits

Climbing is not only an activity children love doing, but it is also great for developing their coordination. Rope play is excellent for the development of motor skills, muscle development and improving balancing skills. As rope is a flexible material that moves when you use it, it constantly challenges the children as they climb, and every action on the part of the structure has a reaction in another part. For example, when a child stands on one side of the structure, it wobbles the opposite side, thus improving a child’s balance and their ability to play with others.

Rope play also has significant social interaction benefits for children. While playing on a rope structure, children are often playing near other children using the playground. Children have to learn to take turns and work with others, especially when navigating around the playground and sharing the same foot and handholds as other children.

You will often see children, including older children in secondary schools, sitting and chatting in amongst the ropes of a structure, showing the social and interactive benefits of rope play.

Safety of Rope Playgrounds

One of the significant parts of the rope-based play is that while it is challenging, it is safe.

“We have been supplying equipment to schools for many years and have had very few safety complaints about these structures. We mostly hear that they are so successful that schools have to roster turns” said design director Glenn Kelsey from adventure+

At first glance, the structures may appear risky; however, all compliant rope structures are designed in such a way that children can’t fall from the top to the bottom of structures that are taller than the maximum free height of fall allowed. The configuration of the net is strategically designed to catch the user if they were to fall.

Designed for large numbers of children

Many different configurations of rope structures are available; however, one thing that is consistent with them is that they can accommodate large numbers of children. The large web net allows children of all age groups to play and socialise at the same time. Glenn Kelsey says, “We have installed rope climbing structures in a variety of different school types, including secondary schools, where older children use them to sit and chat in their lunch break, special schools and of course, primary schools”. Most rope structures are suited to all age groups; juniors can play on sections of the structure where there are narrower distances between ropes, while seniors can use more challenging areas with large spaces between ropes.

Types of Rope Playgrounds

There are many types of climbing nets available from adventure+. 

Centre Mast Structures

These rope structures typically have a centre pole through the centre of the rope playground, thus their name Centre Mast Structures. These can vary from 3 metres tall to about 9.3 metres tall. These structures provide a vast playing surface that accommodates a large number of children.

Steel Frame Climbing Structures

These structures have a high visual appeal and an enormous amount of play value. With a jungle of rope climbing nets within a sturdy steel structure, these playgrounds have been designed to last the test of time and provide countless hours of fun for children. These structures come in a range of heights and variations, including slides.

Modular Structures

Utilising a triangular or square, (or both), basic module grid, and drawing from a range of different activity components, a myriad of configurations can be created to suit almost any user and space requirement. 

Connecting Rope to Other Play Equipment

As well as being ideal as freestanding play units, Modular Rope Play Structures can also be positioned abutting a traditional play unit, to create the ultimate playground complex! 

Of course, while rope structures are an excellent choice for school playground equipment, other traditional types are suitable also. adventure+ provides a vast range of playground equipment and being a manufacturer allows us to take into account specific budgets, site restrictions or desired styles to create a solution that suits the exact individual needs of a school.