Our insights.
At what age do children stop playing in school playgrounds?
Adventure playgrounds
Inclusive playgrounds
Parkour playgrounds
Perhaps the better question is: At what age do playgrounds stop being designed for them? For many children, interest in traditional school playgrounds begins to decline around the ages of 10 to 12. By the early teenage years, swings, small slides and brightly coloured climbing structures can feel too easy, too childish or simply socially uncomfortable. But that does not mean teenagers have stopped wanting to play.
Could the playground be the reason a parent chooses your school?
Adventure playgrounds
Inclusive playgrounds
Nature play
Outdoor classrooms
Parkour playgrounds
When parents are comparing schools for their prospective Prep child, many of the fundamentals can appear similar. Strong academic programs. Caring teachers. Clear values. Welcoming communities. So, what ultimately swings their decision?
Could grant funding help your school build its next playground?
Adventure playgrounds
Inclusive playgrounds
Nature play
Outdoor classrooms
Parkour playgrounds
For many schools, the vision for a better playground already exists. The challenge is finding the funding to make it happen. Across Queensland and New South Wales, several government and community grant programs can contribute towards playgrounds, inclusive play spaces, outdoor learning areas and associated infrastructure. However, schools often miss these opportunities because they begin looking for funding before the project has been properly defined.
What does your playground teach?
Adventure playgrounds
Inclusive playgrounds
Nature play
Outdoor classrooms
Parkour playgrounds
School leaders quite rightly carefully consider what their classrooms communicate about learning, culture and expectations, and there is a growing trend in Queensland that the same consideration is being applied to playgrounds.
5 mistakes schools make when planning a new playground
Adventure playgrounds
Inclusive playgrounds
Nature play
Outdoor classrooms
Parkour playgrounds
A new playground is one of the most exciting capital projects a school can undertake. Done well, it becomes a place where children build confidence, develop friendships, challenge themselves physically and create lasting memories. However, after working with schools across Queensland and New South Wales, we’ve seen that many playground projects encounter the same avoidable issues.
What your outdoors say about your school
General Landscaping
Outdoor classrooms
When schools think about outdoor furniture, the conversation often starts with practical considerations. But they overlook something equally important. Outdoor furniture communicates.
Slopes can be a design plus for playgrounds
Adventure playgrounds
General Landscaping
Inclusive playgrounds
Nature play
When it comes to playground design, a sloped site is often seen as a challenge. However, with the right approach, slopes can become one of the most valuable features of a school playground or nature play area. Rather than flattening the land, Everything Outside’s designers often use natural levels to create exciting, engaging, and cost-effective play spaces.
Why sandpits still belong in school playgrounds
Inclusive playgrounds
Nature play
In 2026, the most forward-thinking schools in Queensland and New South Wales are reimagining their playgrounds — not as break-time extras, but as essential learning and wellbeing environments. The trends we are seeing across independent, faith based and public schools reflect a clear shift: playgrounds are becoming strategic assets that support inclusion, compliance, enrolments and long-term value.
Top 5 playground trends shaping Qld and NSW schools in 2026
Adventure playgrounds
Inclusive playgrounds
Nature play
Outdoor classrooms
Parkour playgrounds
In 2026, the most forward-thinking schools in Queensland and New South Wales are reimagining their playgrounds — not as break-time extras, but as essential learning and wellbeing environments. The trends we are seeing across independent, faith based and public schools reflect a clear shift: playgrounds are becoming strategic assets that support inclusion, compliance, enrolments and long-term value.
The power of an inclusive playground
Adventure playgrounds
Inclusive playgrounds
Nature play
There’s a special kind of magic that happens when every child can play side by side at school. There’s the collective laughing, exploring, and creating memories together without barriers. For me, that’s the true power of an inclusive playground.
Steel v Timber: what is best for a school playground?
Adventure playgrounds
Nature play
Parkour playgrounds
When planning a new school playground, one of the first big decisions is what materials to use. Most modern playgrounds are built with either steel, timber, or a blend of both. Everything Outside provides all three finishes and each option has its own strengths — so choosing the right one depends on what will work best for your students and the school environment.
Playgrounds influence enrolments: here’s why
Adventure playgrounds
General Landscaping
Nature play
Outdoor classrooms
Parkour playgrounds
When it comes to private school enrolments, academic results, reputation, and values have always been central to parent decision-making. But the landscape is shifting. Children themselves now have a significant say in which school they attend—and that means playgrounds have become more important than ever.