Ecuador – Playground Equipment Part II

NOTE: Click on a photo to enlarge.

Ecuador (1518)While in Ecuador, we saw some playgrounds at city parks and thought many readers might be interested in what we found. Ecuador, being a poor country, obviously spends less money on equipment than we do, but we have many things in common. They, like us, have some equipment that is good and some that is bad. As you look at these photos, you can be the judge. But from what we observed, kids in Ecuador enjoy their equipment just as much as ours do.
Ecuador (1142a)Ecuador (1297a)First, for some equipment that is the same or similar to ours. We saw a couple of variations of the traditional see-saw. One was a see-saw designed for two children at each end. The other was a simple see-saw, but used embedded tires to reduce the “bump” at the bottom. This see-saw variation was designed for the kids to stand and hold to a support. We also saw some molded plastic equipment similar to that sold here.
Ecuador (1141a)Ecuador (1302)We also found two variations of platform climbers similar to those used in this country. One, designed for younger children was low. The other, designed for older children, provided a choice of mounting by way of a cargo-net style chain ladder or by climbing a vertical hanging chain ladder. The child could get down from the platform by sliding down a “fireman’s” pole or by using a sliding board. Just like U.S. kids, the kids went down the slide 3 or 4 at a time and some climbed up the sliding board.
Ecuador (1295a)Ecuador (1521a)

We observed two pieces of equipment we have never observed in the U.S. One was a variation of the merry-go-round. Fitness enthusiasts would like it and very protective, safety types would cringe. The second piece was an interesting climbing apparatus constructed from used propane tanks (pictured in the first paragraph). The kids loved it as it presented some interesting challenges. One problem with it was that at least one or two of the tanks were rusted out (see photo), thereby presenting a hazard.

Ecuador (605)

So in Ecuador, kids are kids. Whether blowing up a balloon, riding little brother piggy back, looking handsome in their neat school uniforms, or when dangerously scaling a steep rockwall while in the care of their grandmother, kids in Ecuador are just like those in the U.S.

See Part 1 of the series

Ecuador (31)Ecuador (164)Ecuador (692)