This text was created specifically to introduce the device which is a spring rocker for children. From the text you will learn what this device is and what it consists of, its use and configuration options, as well as what benefits the garden rocker brings to investors as well as children. We invite you to a short reading!
What is a spring rocker for children?
Swinging, spinning, sliding, climbing, rocking. Playgrounds offer a whole spectrum of play opportunities and types of physical activity for children of all ages. Describing each of the aforementioned is really material for a separate article, so today we'll focus on the last one, namely rocking, or more specifically, the equipment used for it.
Modern playground rockers are a bit like the equivalent of rocking horses. The main difference is that the entire device and the principle of its operation is based on a spring. Everyone knows how a spring works, so the use of its properties for playground purposes has become so obvious that nowadays spring rockers have become an integral part of almost every playground. They enjoy the interest of the youngest ones in particular. Well, after all, which child wouldn't want to ride on his favorite colorful animal or other creature, for example, from the world of fairy tales? Here the imagination of designers knows no bounds.
Spring rocker for the playground - what does it consist of?
As with most of the playground equipment you'll find on a modern playground, rockers come in virtually endless color combinations and can be made of all sorts of materials. Of course, they must be designed and manufactured in such a way as to absolutely meet the requirements of the safety standard. The set consists of:
- Anchor (an element that requires permanent bonding to the ground)
- springs
- the toy part, which acts as a seat, providing a comfortable grip and giving the rocker its final shape and function, depending on the designer's idea
- the necessary connecting elements (cybants, nuts and anti-jammers)
Anchor - a playground rocker must have a solid base
Anchoring of the rocker can be done in two ways - through an anchor on concrete or ground anchor. An anchor on concrete is low and flat, requiring only that it be bolted permanently to a level surface. Anchors on concrete are most often used in projects implemented on a ready-made concrete base, providing for the use of safe rubber surfaces.
Ground anchor on the other hand, requires embedding in the ground, usually using concrete (unless the shape of the anchor and the type of soil guarantee sufficient stability without concrete). They tend to be used in projects that include sand, turf or wood chips as a safety surface, for example.
Spring - or how to set a garden rocker in motion
Spring, another important component of the rocker, thanks to which its movement in all directions is possible, is made of the appropriate type of steel and subjected to strength tests. Thanks to heat treatment, it has adequate flexibility, high tensile strength and the ability to return to its original shape after deformation. It must be adapted to a particular rocker in terms of diameter and load capacity. To ensure corrosion protection, springs used in playgrounds are powder coated. RECCREO springs for rockers are available in almost all RAL colors, and are additionally pre-coated with zinc primer to increase corrosion protection.
Springs come in different diameters, so rest assured that you can choose the size of the spring for the size of the seat and potential load. A different one will be for a single garden rocker, and another for a double one.
The spring should necessarily be equipped with an anti-jamming system. This will allow children to keep all their fingers, and investors time and money, spent on compensation.
Dog, panda, dinosaur - which spring rocker seat to choose?
The play part of the rocker can take the shape of an animal, a plant, a cartoon character or a vehicle. Depending on the designer's idea, it can give both one and several children the opportunity to play. The possibility of using different types of materials (metal, plastics such as HDPE or HPL, wood) makes it possible to find many rockers on the market, often using different combinations of them. The same goes for the color scheme, which can be adjusted depending on the needs of the project or individual preferences.
Ecological playground - wooden rocker
Currently, natural wood playgrounds are becoming increasingly popular. Here, on the subject of rockers, in addition to simple solutions using, for example, only a neat piece of beam and a simple stainless steel handle, we find veritable works of art in the form of figures and sculptures. To meet customer needs and market trends, in addition to the standard range of HDPE rockers, RECCREO offers a a mounting system for the rocker - a ready-made set consisting of an anchor, a spring and an adapter for the play part, which is basically the entire load-bearing part of the device.
It gives you the opportunity to create a rocker according to your own vision, without having to build it from scratch. A version with both ground anchor and concrete anchor is available, as well as two types of adapters for the play part. In addition, a stainless steel footrest compatible with the rest of the set is also available. Importantly for installers and investors, the set meets all the requirements of EN 1176. You can find out how important it is to make a playground in accordance with regulations and standards HERE
Affordable addition to playground equipment
Rockers are simple devices, and playing on them does not require much effort or skill from a child. And although to adults such rocking seems boring in the long run, in fact for a child it can be an interesting and revealing experience from the world of physics. Balancing one's own body and coordinating balance, while making an effort to stay on the device, is a good workout for both the child's body and mind.
And what is the benefit to the playground manufacturer?
From the investor's point of view, the spring rocker is an excellent addition to the equipment in a public playground. It takes up little space due to its relatively small safe zone of less than 7 m2. Also, the price compared to other playground equipment is quite low, especially in the context of a large investment such as a public playground. If you add to this a wide range of possibilities for individual configuration, the investor gets an excellent product for small playgrounds or to enhance the appeal of these larger projects. If you are building a public playground, for example, the spring rocker for kindergartens and elementary schools should be a must-have item!
