Outdoor Learning for Daycare Yards
West Shore has made early-learning products in our Dalian factory since 2003 and has supplied more than 5,000 childcare centers and preschools in 50+ countries. Outdoor pieces can go on the same order as the tables, shelves and cubbies: sand and water tables, mud kitchens, playhouses, active-play pieces, trikes, freestanding structures and swings. Send your yard plan or floor plan, the age group in each room and your opening date, and we will send back a yard layout and a quote for the equipment.
Outdoor Learning by Area
Freestanding structures
Climbers and slides that stand on the surface you already have, without a dug footing.
Outdoor furniture
Outdoor tables, benches and the activity stations listed on the outdoor furniture page.
Not sure what the yard should hold?
Send the yard plan and the ages. We will list the outdoor pieces that fit, and flag anything the space cannot take.
What Each Yard Needs by Age
Plan the yard from the youngest group that uses it. The table lists the outdoor pieces that group usually needs. It does not list quantities. Indoor furniture for the same ages is on our daycare furniture page, and classroom toys are on the preschool toys page.
| Group | Typical ages | What the yard usually needs | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant | 6–12 months | Sand and water table | A shaded, soft place to be outside. No climber. A sand or water table only while a staff member is beside it. |
| Toddler | 1–2 years | Sand and waterLow active playRide-ons | Keep the pieces low. A trike needs a path staff can see from the door. |
| Preschool | 3–5 years | Mud kitchenPlayhouseActive play | Put the mud kitchen next to the sand area so the mess stays in one place. |
| Pre-K | 4–6 years | Freestanding structureSwing | Order a structure or a swing only after the yard plan shows it fits, including the space around it. |
A mixed-age yard is planned for the youngest child in it.
Materials and Safety Standards
Outdoor pieces are timber, metal, or a mix of the two. The material and the finish are named on each line of the quote, because a sandpit and a swing frame are not the same specification.
Safety rules differ by product and by country, so we provide the test report that matches the exact model on your order. Tell us where the equipment is going and we will confirm which documents apply:
- United States: see which rules apply to children's products on our US safety standards page.
- Australia and New Zealand: see the notes on our Australia childcare furniture page.
- Other markets: ask us for the reports your licensing body requires before you order.
Surfacing, fencing and site work are not part of the equipment quote. If the yard still needs them, they stay with your local contractor.
Free design service
We plan the room before you buy the furniture
Send us a floor plan and our design team works through three stages. You see how the space actually works — and what it costs — before anything goes into production. No order commitment, no design fee.
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What fits in the room
Scaled floor plan
Every table, shelf and cot mapped to scale. You can see circulation space and staff sightlines before committing to a single item.
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How the room works
Zone & space planning
Activity zones, quiet corners, storage and the flow to outdoor areas — arranged around your age groups and teaching approach.
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What it will look like
3D visualisation
A rendered view you can put in front of your team, your licensing assessor or your landlord — before you spend anything.
A sketch on paper or a PDF from your architect is enough to start. Most plans come back within 48 hours.
Lead Time, Minimum Order and Shipping
- Production: 30–45 days after you confirm the list.
- Door to door: a package usually arrives 10–14 weeks after confirmation, depending on your country and port.
- Minimum order: it varies by product. Outdoor pieces added to a furniture order usually have no separate minimum.
- Shipping: we pack by room, label outdoor cartons separately, and arrange freight to your door.
Opening soon? Send the date first. We will tell you whether the timeline works before you spend time on a yard plan.
Outdoor Learning Projects
Treehouse Childcare, Adelaide, Australia
Six rooms and 109 approved places, from six weeks to school age, with two outdoor playgrounds. West Shore supplied the indoor and outdoor furniture together.
Treehouse Childcare, nature play area, Adelaide
Shade over the sand and garden beds in one of the two playgrounds, planned with the rooms inside.
Everwood Early Education, Forrestdale, Australia
Five classrooms, 83 licensed places, 850 square metres indoors and 538 square metres outdoors.
Factory transparency
An Australian client flew in to inspect our factory.
So we filmed it.
The team from Everwood Early Education spent a day on our production floor — no script, no staging, nothing set up in advance.
- Plywood grades and edge finishing, checked by hand
- Assembly lines and hardware actually used in production
- QC procedures before packing and container loading
Real customer reviews with WestShore Furniture
Real messages from preschool and daycare clients sharing their experience with our furniture and project support.
Our Global Community Partners
Conclusion
An outdoor order works best as part of the yard plan: the youngest age sets the pieces, a swing or a structure is ordered only when the yard can take it, and the equipment ships with the indoor furniture.
Budget the Yard With the Rooms
Outdoor play is usually 8–15% of a new center's startup budget, about $20,000 in our 2026 startup cost breakdown. That example includes surfacing, fencing and site work as well as equipment. West Shore quotes the equipment. Production is 30–45 days after the list is confirmed, and the package arrives 10–14 weeks door to door. Send your floor plan, the ages in each room and your opening date.
Outdoor Learning FAQ
What do I need to send for an outdoor quote?
A yard plan or floor plan, the age group that uses each outdoor area, and your opening date. Photos of the yard help when a structure has to fit an existing space.
Can outdoor pieces ship with the classroom furniture?
Yes. Most centers order them together. We pack by room and label the outdoor cartons separately.
Is there a minimum order?
The minimum varies by product. Outdoor pieces added to a furniture order usually have no separate minimum.
How long does an outdoor order take?
Production is 30–45 days after you confirm the list. Door-to-door delivery is usually 10–14 weeks, depending on your country and port.
Which safety documents do you provide?
We provide the test report that matches each model on your order. Tell us the destination country and we will confirm which documents apply before you order.
Can you tell me if a swing or play structure fits my yard?
Yes. Send the yard plan and the age group. We will say whether the frame fits, including the space around it, before you order it.
Can I get samples first?
Yes. Sample fees are credited back against a confirmed project order.
Do you ship to my country?
We ship worldwide and deliver to your door. Our main markets are the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
