Ideas for Tot Lots

Tot lots are small parks or playgrounds designed for children under the age of 12, typically located in residential areas. Whether you're building a tot lot or remodeling an existing playground, a tot lot should include play equipment suitable to stimulate young children as well as other amenities for families and neighborhood residents.

  1. Traditional Playground Equipment

    • Standard playground equipment including slides, sandboxes and swings remain popular among children and parents for tot lots. They provide gross motor stimulation for children of all ages and encourage physical activity. All playground equipment should meet current safety standards. Swings and climbing equipment should have protective surfacing, either sand, wood chips or a soft mat, underneath.

    Accessible and Modern Playground Equipment

    • Many tot lots today include playground equipment designed to be accessible to children with disabilities. Climbing equipment with ramps wide enough for wheelchairs and accessible swings allow all children access to the play equipment. Other modern innovations in playground equipment include play structures designed to encourage imaginative play, such as colorful play houses, ships, airplanes or trains and play areas with water features for warm summer months.

    Amenities

    • Often an afterthought in playground planning, amenities such as water fountains, rest rooms, benches and tables ensure a tot lot is usable for families. When planning a tot lot, consider the location of water fountains and benches. Shaded benches around the play equipment permit parents to gather and watch their children. Picnic tables and benches nearby encourage families to use the tot lot for gatherings and parties. Restrooms are important to young children, especially if the tot lot services families that live a significant walking distance from the lot. Canopies and shades are important for covering the play area in hot climates and lighting allows families to use the tot lot in the evenings.

    Landscaping

    • Grassy areas near the play equipment encourage children to run and play and provide an inviting area for picnics, impromptu ball games and an interesting surface for toddlers and babies to explore. Plants and flower beds can be used to divide parts of the tot lot and provide visual stimulation for passersby and the children at play. Trees around the perimeter of the tot lot provide shade and divide the tot lot from the neighborhood.