You’ve likely noticed playground signs before, but are they truly necessary? The short answer is yes — your playground should have signs. From important information to fun designs, signs can complete a playground.
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Signs allow playground visitors to be fully informed of any rules, hazards or other crucial information as soon as they enter the premises. This can lead to a better visitor experience and encourages safe and respectful usage of the playground.
In fact, playground signs are so important that many states have signage standards public playgrounds are required to follow. Specific standards and regulations can vary by location, so contact your state’s department to learn more.
There are a variety of playground signs to choose from that can help improve your playground. While your playground may not need every sign listed below, it’s important to consider how each sign may benefit your playground and visitors. Use the following list of 10 types of playground signs to help you find the right signs for your playground.
One of the most important signs to include in any playground is a supervision advisory or risk management sign. This sign tells parents or caregivers they’re responsible for properly supervising their children. The sign will also warn them that the playground isn’t suitable for unsupervised play, and kids left unattended may face injuries.
While this sign may sound like it’s trying to scare families off, it does the opposite. By using friendly and inviting language, this sign simply reminds visitors the playground is a fun space as long as kids are adequately supervised.
Another crucial sign to include is the playground rules sign. Playground rules help you to keep the playground as safe as possible. These rules, when followed, can help prevent injury. However, visitors will only know the playground rules if they’re posted.
The playground rules sign should be placed in a noticeable spot so each visitor can clearly see the rules. While playground rules tend to be very similar from playground to playground, you can customize your rules to highlight any specific areas or behaviors parents and caregivers should look out for.
Keep every visitor informed on the playground operating hours with a playground hours sign. This is an extremely valuable sign for private community playgrounds that may be locked up during non-operating hours.
Families may be confused why they can’t enter the playground and assume it’s permanently closed if there isn’t a posted hours sign. This type of sign also lets families know when it’s time to start packing up for the day as the playground’s hours come to a close.
If local donors funded your playground, you can honor them with a designated sign. When visitors read about the people who have invested in the community, specifically for the local youth, it can create a sense of community spirit. Your donors will likely be happy to see their generosity recognized, too.
Does your playground have any interesting history or fun facts? Highlight them with their own sign. Remember, kids aren’t the only ones who use the playground — parents and caretakers are also there, and they may have an interest in learning more about the playground or the neighborhood.
If your playground is located within a park, you can add some fun facts about the park as a whole, too. Learning more about the playground can help visitors feel more connected to the space and the community as a whole.
Playgrounds in warmer climates may become too hot after being exposed to the sun all day. Hot surface warning signs are exactly what they sound like — they remind parents or supervisors to check the playground equipment to ensure it’s not too hot. While it may seem self-explanatory, you can never be too careful when it comes to playground safety.
Of course, not all playgrounds are open to the public. If you own or operate a private playground, you need to use a sign to indicate the playground is private property. Otherwise, visitors may not realize the playground isn’t open to the public.
Private school playgrounds or gated community playgrounds can both benefit from this type of informational sign. You may also want to include contact information for the playground manager in case any issues occur.
Larger parks may have multiple playgrounds, so including a sign with the playground’s name can help visitors understand which playground they’re using. With playground name signs, it can be easier for visitors to make plans at certain playgrounds — instead of trying to describe the playground, parents can use the playground’s name to schedule play dates. The name sign will confirm everyone has arrived at the same location and can be especially helpful for people new to the park.
Some playground equipment may only be suitable for certain age ranges, so displaying that information with a sign is important. Consider using a fun playground welcome sign to display the recommended age range for the playground.
Not every sign on your playground has to be informational or serious — you can add fun graphic signs, too. Bring your playground theme to life with amusing graphic signs of animals, shapes and other fun designs. Additionally, custom playground signs are available so you can create unique or branded designs that elevate the playground space.
Are you ready to add signs to your playground? At Playworld, we offer several types of playground signs and custom options. With decades of experience, we can assist and guide you through the playground design process. Whether you need an expert opinion on the types of signs to include or creative input during the design phase, our team of play experts is ready to help.
Take your playground to the next level with our high-quality signs and other playground equipment by contacting our team today.
