Whether a child navigates a maze or solves a number grid, they’re doing more than just playing; they’re developing vital skills such as critical thinking and spatial awareness. These are skills that, once honed, can help children with more complex problems in the classroom and throughout their life.
It’s not just academic skills that are important for children to develop; social skills such as compromise, empathy and teamwork are also incredibly vital. Playground markings allow children to interact with each other and test these skills in a safe setting, where they can experiment with different solutions without fear of failure or judgment. Whether this is through sports games, mazes or even simple coloured line patterns that encourage interaction and precision action such as a modified version of tag, these markings will promote healthy interaction between pupils.
Educational markings are a great way to repurpose tarmac playground areas and transform them into a fun and engaging space that can be used for both play and learning. Combined with other playground equipment for schools, these markings can provide a fun and stimulating environment that will help nurture imagination, energy and cognitive development.
Many of these educational markings can be easily incorporated into lessons, helping teachers to bring lessons to life and reinforce key subjects in a more interesting and interactive way. For example, a number of different markings can be used to teach maths through number-based games such as a 100 snakes and ladders playground marking, or other number-based activities. These can then be followed up with bean bag throwing games, where numbers are added and subtracted by hand and the kids have the chance to practice what they’ve learnt and enjoy a fun outdoor break time.
Other playground markings, such as sports court markings and fitness zones can be used for both playtime and PE lessons. This can help to keep breaks varied and exciting, and can inspire pupils to take up active hobbies outside of school hours. It can also be beneficial for schools to have a mix of both sports and non-sports markings, as this can help to attract pupils from a wider range of backgrounds who may not otherwise be interested in PE.
Inclusivity is another great benefit of using educational markings, as they can create a space where disabled pupils can interact with their peers and build their confidence in a friendly environment. They can be incorporated into existing playground equipment and activities, or even be designed in a separate area alongside other markings to ensure all students have the same opportunities to participate.
Of course, not all of these markings are going to be instantly recognizable as being educational. However, symbols such as books and pens/pencils are easily recognisable and have long been associated with education and learning. These are also ideal logo icons for education brands, as they can be used as standalone symbols or in combination with other educational iconography to create a brand that is both professional and engaging.