Trim trails have long been one of the most sought-after school playground apparatuses in the UK. Today, thanks to the innovative team at ESP Play, we are able to offer an upgraded version – the interchangeable trim trail. If you have never heard of either of these, here we explain what they are, why they are great for school playgrounds and the benefits of using interchangeable pieces together with fixed trim trails equipment.
What are trim trails?
A trim trail is a playground obstacle course that is created by putting together a sequence of equipment that presents a series of fun but physical challenges. These can be placed in a circle or laid end to end, depending on your playground’s design, available space and preference.
One of the best things about a trim trail is that, as each course is composed of individual pieces of equipment, schools can pick and choose the pieces that they want to have installed. You can let the children pick the pieces that they like best or which you think will provide them with the greatest benefits.
Fixed and interchangeable trim trails
There are two types of trim trail equipment, fixed and interchangeable, and a good obstacle course would have elements of both. The difference between the two types is that a fixed trim trail piece always offers the same challenge, while the interchangeable equipment has elements that can be switched to offer children regularly changing challenges.
Fixed trim trail equipment is almost entirely made from wood and includes things like balance beams, chin-up bars, dip bars, duck and dive posts, jungle bars, wobbly log balance beams, log stairs, stepping logs and so forth. There are also some fixed pieces that incorporate tyres, like the tyre pass and tyre steppers, and others that contain rope equipment, like rope traverses and rigging-styled challenge nets.
Interchangeable trim trail pieces are rope challenges constructed on apex, cube and square wooden frames. While the frames remain fixed, the design is such that the ropes can be quickly and safely removed and replaced with a wide range of alternative challenges. At present we have over 40 different types of interchangeable rope equipment that can be switched across the different pieces of apparatus.
Age-appropriate trim trail challenges
Another benefit of installing both fixed and interchangeable trim trail elements is that they come in different age-appropriate categories. There are four current sets of equipment, those specially created for early years and, for older children, there are simplified, intermediate and advanced categories of equipment which present increasingly greater challenge. Early years trim tail equipment is ideal for EYFS pupils, the simplified range is great for infants, intermediate for juniors and advanced for secondary.
Developing skills
The challenges that a trim trail obstacle course presents can help children develop a range of important skills. These can include balance and coordination, resilience, problem solving and handling risk. Many of these skills, of course, are vital not just in the classroom but in day to day life.
Improving health
According to the NHS, children need an hour of quality physical activity every day to stay healthy. Many children don’t get the chance to be active outside of school and so the only place they can get physical is in the playground. The physical exertion of playing on a trim trail course can have health benefits, helping the children to stay fit and increase strength and stamina. The different apparatus available enable pupils to improve the physical health of the whole body, through activities like jumping, climbing, stepping and swinging.
Taking part in regular physical activity is also important for mental health – something that has suffered across the nation in the aftermath of the lockdown. The Mental Health Foundation tells us that physical activity helps reduce stress and anxiety, improves self-esteem and can even play a part in the prevention of mental health problems. With increasing numbers of pupils struggling with their mental health, a trim trail obstacle course can encourage greater participation in physical activity and thus contribute to the children’s wellbeing.
Conclusion
A trim trail obstacle course composed of both fixed and interchangeable elements provides pupils with play activities that are fun and exciting, and which can be switched around on a regular basis. The interchangeable elements keep the course fresh, with the new challenges encouraging consistent participation. This, in turn, increases the benefits to the child in terms of skill learning, physical health and wellbeing.
For more information about our fixed and interchangeable trim trail equipment, visit our Trims Trails page.
