Five Steps to Finding the Perfect Bench for Your Playground

Park benches are much more than outdoor seats—they serve as a place to welcome friends, create memories, and foster community. When it comes to the playground at your daycare, preschool, or after-school program, the right seating can make a surprisingly big difference. Investing in quality outdoor commercial benches is an easy way to make a big impact in the playground experience for little ones and grown-ups alike. Finding a bench for a school playground is simple in theory, but it should take careful thought and consideration to ensure you get a product you will be happy with for years to come. We’re here to help!

5 tips to help you select the right bench for your playground space.

1. Find the right size park bench

Everyone is a Goldilocks—they need a bench that’s not too big, not too small, but just right! You need to determine if the primary users of your daycare or preschool playground bench will be adults or little ones, or both! Our classic kid-sized Ergo-Eco Bench and Flat Bench are both available in kid-size and grown-up size in both 4′ and 6′ lengths. We can’t forget who the playground is really for, however—the kids! That’s why Nature of Early Play also has outdoor school furniture specifically designed to suit toddlers and preschoolers. An appropriately sized bench allows a child to sit comfortably while keeping their feet close to—or on—the ground. Our Ergo-Eco Kids Bench and Preschool Flat Bench are perfectly sized for preschoolers. Even better, they are light enough for a couple of adults to move around the playground, but heavy enough to stay where they put it. Talk about just right!

2. Find the right style playground bench

When selecting benches for your facility, it’s important to consider who will be the primary users and for what purpose. Backless options provide more freedom and easy access from both sides, which is great for benches that are located between multiple pieces of playground equipment so that supervisors can face either direction. For those wanting a relaxing spot to take a load off, benches with backs offer guests muscle relief as they take in their beautiful surroundings.

If you prefer a refreshingly simple look, go for the timeless flat seating and no arms option. If you’d rather recline and relax as you enjoy the great outdoors, our revolutionary, ergonomically-driven ergo-EcoBenches will provide superior lumbar support for all shapes and sizes. There is even the option of an Ergo-EcoBench with Back & Roof for adults, which provides not only comfortable seating, but shade as well! Our luxurious design may be modeled after office furniture, but that doesn’t mean that toddlers and preschoolers can’t reap the comfortable benefits! Is your playground riddled with trees? For a shady and stylish bench around a tree, take a look at our Octagon Bench. We offer three diameters to perfectly suit the size of your trees.

The final step is picking out a color scheme that matches the rest of the furniture at your outdoor play area. To make sure it works with any outdoor design, consider neutral options like tan and gray or warm shades of brown. Our benches are available with Mist tops over Latte supports or Latte tops over Chocolate supports. These earth tones are a great complement to all color pallets to enhance the look and feel of your playground.

3. Find the right park bench material

If you want a low-maintenance bench that lasts through the elements, look for commercial park benches made from recycled plastic. Nature of Early Play has revolutionized playgrounds by introducing RSP (Recycled Structural Plastic) that is great for the environment and fantastic for you! Our new and improved formula offers increased structural strength, increased rigidity, and increased thermal stability. Take a look at the advantages that recycled plastic benches offer over traditional wood or metal benches:

4. Find the right add-ons for your public bench

Options, options, options! Your bench can be more than just a bench with all of the customizations and add-on possibilities. Will the bench be located in a sunny area? Take a look at our Ergo-EcoBench with a roof that offers relief from the sun in style. Are you looking for portable park benches or do you want the playground park bench to remain in the same place? All of our benches may be easily secured with the optional surface mount kit to prevent unwanted relocation. Would you like your bench to act as an outdoor sofa complete with armrests and cup holders? We have those, too! Is the bench being donated or dedicated to a particular person or place? Custom engraving is available as well. With so many options, you can really make your playground bench as unique as the people who will use it!

5. Find the right company

Now that you know what kind of recycled plastic park bench (or benches) you need, you need to find the right company to work with. When you team up with Nature of Early Play and our outdoor school furniture distributors, you are supporting a woman-owned business that stands for sustainable and environmentally friendly initiatives. We bring these values to life through our creations; 100% made in the USA playground equipment crafted primarily from 100% recycled materials. We are proud of the exceptional quality of our early childhood playground equipment and are equally committed to exceptional service. You can also rest easy knowing that our recycled plastic playground benches come with a 10-year limited warranty.

At Nature of Early Play, you can find outdoor school benches that are perfect for your needs:

• Ergo-Eco Bench (Adult)
• Flat Bench (Adult)
• Ergo-Eco Kids Bench
• Flat Bench (Preschool)
• Octagon Bench
  • 48″ diameter bench for 18″ diameter tree
  • 60″ diameter bench for 24″ diameter tree
  • 72″ diameter bench for 36″ diameter tree

Who says practical can’t be charming and delightful? Make your playground complete with recycled plastic park benches from Nature of Early Play. The teachers, daycare workers, parents, and kids who come to your facility every day deserve a great place to sit back and relax. Our extensive selection of school playground benches are all-inclusive: low-maintenance plastic options with steel reinforcement that will last that come in a variety of sizes and colors to suit any playground perfectly. Whatever you need to complete your vision, you will find it at Nature of Early Play. Spruce up the space further by pairing park benches with our fantastic picnic tables, trash cans, and other site amenities!