Budgeting for Outdoor Play Items

1. Budgeting for Outdoor Play Items Children can’t be expected to stay focused all day long in class. It is natural for them to need time to play, unwind, and to socialise with friends. The use of school playground equipment allows them intervals of time throughout the day to do so. It is recommended to offer two recess periods and also some play time after lunch. Over time, school playground equipment can become unsafe and it can be in need of repairs. Often, it is less expensive to budget to replace those items than it is to repair them. Plus, the upgrade means kids are getting new items to play on with the best technology available. Such items are less likely to pose a risk to them. For example, there are items that can be used in different ways so the kids don’t get bored with them. Some of these items allow the kids to get great forms of exercise while they are playing. Parents and educators can feel great knowing they are getting physically active so the outcome is a winner on many levels. Fundraiser It isn’t always in the school budget though to pay for school playground equipment. This continues to be an issue as the need for such items gets put on a back burner due to money

2. shortages. A fundraiser is a great way to get the kids and the parents involved to raise money for the cause. One of the simple options is to have a coin drive. Ask everyone to save up their change and bring it to school at the end of each month. You will be amazed at how much this adds up to. At the same time, most households won’t miss that change so it isn’t an extra overall expense for them. The children will love being a part of gathering the money. Community The involvement of the community can also be a wonderful way to raise money for school playground equipment. Many of the businesses will be happy to donate what they can. Even small businesses can give a little bit and it all adds up. There are fundraisers that can get everyone in town on board to help with this. Seeing the project go from the total needed to raising all the funds to get it done is very exciting. It can help to promote education and community at the same time. Everyone can feel like they have had a hand in making this outcome possible. Great Pricing on Quality Items Before you can go the route of fundraising, you need to know how much funding is necessary to buy the school playground equipment. Look around to find quality items that fit well with the amount of space available. The items should also be age appropriate for the spectrum of children that go to school there. Find a provider of school playground equipment well known for their attention to detail, the use of quality materials, and they are easy to work with. They can give you an estimate for the total cost of the project including the installation of the new items and hauling away the old ones. It is a good idea to look for a provider offering a generous warranty on the equipment too. This gives you a safety net that if you have any issues with the items down the road, they will take care of it for you. It isn’t going to be an additional expense to try to come up with money for. Try to find the best prices on the items the kids will love but don’t let the overall quality of what they sell to you be compromised.