Playgrounds in malls provide multiple benefits for both visitors and the businesses within those shopping centers. To make these areas captivating, encouraging a valid reason for returning with little ones, their design must be based on certain principles, which we will analyze below. Finally, we will provide a list of recommendations on what play equipment can be used in such a child-dedicated space.
Benefits of Mall Playgrounds for Children and Parents
Mall playgrounds significantly contribute to the social and physical development of children. In such an environment, kids have the chance to interact with other children, thereby improving their communication and cooperation skills. Additionally, varied physical activities help them develop motor skills, coordination, and balance.
Another key aspect of mall playgrounds is safety. They are specially designed to minimize the risk of injuries. Furthermore, qualified staff can constantly supervise the play area, ensuring that all activities are safe.
Moreover, the play equipment is age-appropriate and meets the needs of the children, offering them a chance to explore this type of fun without being exposed to danger. Not least, mall playgrounds also bring psychological benefits for children. Interacting with a new and stimulating environment can improve creativity and critical thinking. Play can also help manage stress and anxiety levels, contributing to emotional well-being.
Parents also benefit from these playgrounds. While children are entertained under the watchful eyes of staff members, adults have the opportunity to relax or shop in the mall. This provides a convenient solution for them, as they can focus on other activities without worrying about their children's safety.
Benefits of Mall Playgrounds for Businesses
Having a playground in a mall can have numerous benefits for businesses. Families with young children often seek a space where their little ones can have fun while they shop. In other words, the presence of a playground in a mall can be a significant factor in choosing one shopping center over another.
Additionally, the availability of an indoor playground can increase the duration of customers' stays in the mall. If children are occupied with fun activities, parents have more time to explore stores and shop. Thus, the average value of a family's shopping basket, especially those with young children, can increase significantly.
The presence of playgrounds in malls can also generate additional revenue. By selling entrance tickets, or organizing children's events in this area (birthday parties, creative workshops, or shows), malls can include much more productive activities in their service offerings.
Finally, by providing a safe and fun play environment for children, malls can earn parents' loyalty. A mall that offers such facilities can benefit from a much higher frequency of visits, which, over time, can contribute to increased sales.
How a Mall Playground Should Be Set Up
Any children's playground in a mall should be extremely safe. The play equipment used must comply with the highest safety standards, and the space must be arranged to minimize the risk of injury. Also, establishing a program of regular checks and collaborating with a firm of experts for maintenance work ensures the high level of safety is maintained.
Play spaces in malls must allow for a variety of activities, tailored to children's interests and abilities. A mix between traditional play equipment (e.g., slides or swings) and cutting-edge elements (e.g., games with lights and SFX, interactive climbing walls, or VR equipment) can keep children interested for longer.
Aesthetics also play an important role in setting up a mall playground. The design should be visually attractive, with bright colors and interesting graphic elements to capture children's imagination. At the same time, it is essential that the arrangement is in harmony with the style of that area of the mall.
Functionality is another essential aspect. A mall playground should be fun, but also practical, offering not only various play options but also other useful features in the process: spaces for storing equipment, comfortable seats and benches for parents, relaxation areas, or spaces for children to get ready to play.
Recommendations for Setting Up Mall Playgrounds
Waterboyz offers a wide range of ideal solutions for setting up playgrounds in malls. Made according to EU-approved safety standards, fun, and easy to use, these cater to various age groups. Thus, all the little ones can have fun in a playground arranged with us, under the careful supervision of adults.
Indoor Playgrounds
The range of indoor playgrounds includes a variety of themed equipment: Jungle, Safari, Jurassic Park, Aquatic Universe, Enchanted Forest, Unicorn World, Candy, Magic Castle, etc. These are specially designed for 3 different age categories: 0-3 years; 3-8 years; 3-12 years (maximum allowed weight - approximately 45 kg / user).
They are designed and made to order, taking into account customer specifications, key aspects for the success of the playground: the available space in the respective mall, the style of decoration in that shopping center, the preferences of the little ones, or the budget allocated for the arrangement of that perimeter.
The indoor playgrounds in the Waterboyz offer are EN 1176, EN 1177 / TUV certified. They come with all the information for safe use and have all the necessary accessories for assembly/operation. Depending on the criteria specified in the previous paragraph, the indoor playgrounds in malls can include in their final structure:
- ball pools;
- slides;
- obstacle courses;
- tunnels;
- sponge ball cannons;
- zip line tracks;
- basketball hoops;
- little bridges;
- Tic-Tac-Toe games;
- climbing walls;
- indoor trampolines;
- horizontal and vertical obstacles.
Ninja Obstacle Course
Give the little ones a chance to have fun with other kids of similar age, with the new Ninja obstacle course from Waterboyz. The route is easy to navigate, and the way the obstacles are arranged stimulates agility, attention to detail, concentration ability, and, as expected, the skills any ninja possesses.
It's a fun course that allows children to improve their physical abilities and enjoy beautiful moments, under the watchful eye of parents. The Ninja obstacle course from Waterboyz can be placed in a safe location in an outdoor area of the mall. Because it attracts customers of different ages, this durable investment can generate constant revenue.
Arcade Games
Arcade games bring a retro feel to the entertainment space in a mall. Featuring colorful buttons and pixelated graphics, typical of the '80s, these games are now back in trend. Suitable for children or teenagers, as well as nostalgic adults, arcade games have a robust structure and allow playing in both Single-Player and Multiplayer modes. Our recommendations: Arcade Game Mix, Jurassic Park Arcade™, The Walking Dead AMC Arcade.
Unlike the latest generation of video consoles, laptops, or desktop gaming systems, these bulky-structured games offer an experience that many customers will discover for the first time. We wrote an article about how to set up an arcade gaming room, which we invite you to read later.
Multiplayer VR Equipment
VR games (Virtual Reality) are part of the 2.0 solutions range for gamers, representing the newest form of technology in entertainment and education. Equipment that allows access to virtual reality can easily find its place in the family entertainment space of a shopping center. If you are interested in generating profit with these, find out how to open a VR gaming room by accessing European funds.
Waterboyz Romania offers you Multiplayer VR equipments, VR Cinema systems, VR Shooting equipment, and VR Race and Sports. Discover our entire range of products with a single click on their images to learn more useful information about how they work, their features, and the benefits they offer to users.
Crocheted Playgrounds
Crocheted playgrounds can be placed in the cafe area of a mall, so that children can have fun together while their parents supervise them from the tables. They are specially designed to stimulate children's imagination and spatial orientation, with a safe structure that encourages them to explore and traverse different levels, tunnels, and play areas.
Using these crocheted structure equipment helps improve balance, increase muscle strength, and reduce social anxiety levels. They can be mounted on different surfaces, both indoor and outdoor, within the perimeter of a shopping center. Discover our offer of outdoor crocheted playgrounds and choose the right models.
If you want to learn more useful information about setting up a playground in a mall and the most suitable equipment for the specific space, the specialists at Waterboyz Romania are available with all the information you need. We are by your side in the most important stages of the setup project, for results just as you desire!
