Blog

17 Sep
Day 108: Big Tile Slide
Posted by Elizabeth Moreno

We first developed (what we believe was) the world’s first brick-and-floor-tile slide for a toddler daycare in Uganda. Check out this little video of how this slide came to be. We love this tile version of the classic slide – it’s relative cheap to build and rock solid. Unlike the traditional steel version of the slide, it won’t get dented over time, or blazing hot in the sun. The “Big Tile Slide” is wide enough to accommodate many kids at once. It’s been built all over the world. In Guatemala and Rwanda, the slide bases were built from earthbags, instead of bricks.

Playground Ideas – Kenya

East African Playgrounds – Uganda

Ana Cristina Garcia Cabezas – Guatemala

Playground Ideas – Rwanda

Playground Ideas – Rwanda

Follow the link to get the step-by-step instructions for building your own "Big Tile Slide."  (Must create user account to see full instructions.)

Got an idea for a playground element? Join our community and submit your designs here.

Day 108: Big Tile Slide
16 Sep
Day 107: Bridge Simple Tire
Posted by Elizabeth Moreno

The easy-peasy “Bridge Simple Tire” is a basic, sturdy way to create a bridge structure to connect two elements. 

East African Playgrounds – Uganda

Follow the link to get the step-by-step instructions for building your own "Bridge Simple Tire.”   (Must create user account to see full instructions.)

Got an idea for a playground element? Join our community and submit your designs here.  

Day 107: Bridge Simple Tire
15 Sep
Day 106: Matatu Tu
Posted by Elizabeth Moreno

“Matatu” is the Swahili term for the minibuses that transport people all over East Africa. The “Matatu Tu” is an brick version of the “Matatu” playground element. We first built the “Matatu Tu” at a primary school in Nairobi, Kenya.

Playground Ideas, Kenya

 

Our Global Play Alliance partner, East African Playgrounds built the “Matatu Tu” last year at a primary school in Uganda.

East African Playgrounds, Uganda

 

Follow the link to get the step-by-step instructions for building your own "Matatu Tu."  (Must create user account to see full instructions.)

Got an idea for a playground element? Join our community and submit your designs here.

 

Day 106: Matatu Tu
7 Sep
Day 105: Aeroplane
Posted by Elizabeth Moreno

The "Aeroplane" element was first designed for a primary school in Nairobi, Kenya. The school was located near to the capital's airport. Kids were always seeing planes flying overhead, but few of them had had the chance to explore one up close. An artist from the community painted a skyline backdrop behind the element, bringing the scene to life. 

The "Aeroplane" features hybrid see-saw wings, which can accommodate dozens of kids at once. A few months after the build, the school emailed us to tell us some of the math teachers had started using the see-saws for outdoor classes to demonstate concepts of weight and balance. Check out this video the school captured of the wings in flight.

Follow the link to get the step-by-step instructions for building your own "Aeroplane".  (Must create user account to see full instructions.)

Got an idea for a playground element? Join our community and submit your designs here.

Day 105: Aeroplane