As Primary School teachers know, developing a lifelong love of physical activity starts at an early age. The challenge is creating opportunities for children to move more often, improve fundamental movement skills and enjoy being active, both during PE lessons and throughout the wider school day.
The answer to this challenge, is often surprisingly simple. Make fitness fun. And the Children’s Fitness Rig provides just that!
16th June 2026
Combining multiple activities in one compact outdoor gym, it gives children the freedom to climb, pedal, swing and spin while playing with friends.
More importantly, it supports physical development, social skills and it is confidence building in a way that is designed to be natural and enjoyable.
Built for Movement
The Children's Fitness Rig provides an exciting way to reinforce movement skills throughout the school day.
Small but mighty, the Rig instantly appeals to Primary aged children as, in a similar way to a climbing frame, the fun is all in one place and has five different exercise points to try out and explore!
In addition to it being great fun, schools can create access to the outdoor gym equipment during break times, lunchtimes and after school clubs making it an excellent addition to any existing outdoor provision.
This regular exposure to exercise, helps build confidence and encourages healthy habits across the whole pupil population. Moreover, teachers tell us that pupils who spend time in the fresh air and natural daylight whilst using outdoor gym equipment are more relaxed and focused in class.
Fitness Made Fun
One of the biggest reasons schools invest in outdoor gym equipment is because children genuinely enjoy using it.
The Children's Fitness Rig combines five popular activities in one engaging space, each offering its own physical benefits.
Monkey Bars - A playground favourite for generations, ‘monkey bars’ develop upper body strength, grip strength, coordination and stamina.
They also encourage a fun approach to perseverance and goal setting. For many children, simply reaching the other side becomes a challenge they are determined to get to. Once they succeed, they often create new goals such as crossing faster, travelling back the other way or completing the journey in reverse. These incremental achievements build confidence through a sense of fun and resilience – all while developing strong, healthy bodies.
Air Skier - The Air Skier introduces cardiovascular exercise in a way that feels more like play than training.
The unique, swining movement uses both the upper and lower body and core strength, helping to improve coordination, endurance, balance and flexibility.
Leg Press - Strong legs support almost every activity children enjoy, from running and jumping to climbing and balancing.
The Leg Press develops lower body strength while introducing resistance-based exercise in a safe and age-appropriate format. Regular use supports stability, balance and overall physical development.
T'ai Chi Spinners - The T'ai Chi Spinners encourage controlled movement and body awareness. Using the rotating discs helps improve coordination, flexibility and concentration while strengthening the upper body. The smooth repetitive movement appeals to children who enjoy a more measured activity while still gaining physical benefits.
Arm Bike - The Arm Bike develops upper body strength, stamina and coordination through a simple pedalling motion using the hands and arms to power the movement.
Importantly, the Arm Bike is wheelchair accessible, allowing all pupils to enjoy the benefits of outdoor exercise alongside their classmates. Inclusive equipment helps create an environment where everyone can participate and feel part of the activity.
Being Outdoors
There is something special about exercising outdoors.
Fresh air, natural daylight and open spaces create an environment that naturally encourages movement and exploration. Being outside often makes physical activity feel less structured and more enjoyable, helping children stay active for longer periods.
Outdoor activity also provides a welcome break from classroom learning. After spending time moving in the fresh air, many pupils return to lessons feeling refreshed, energised and ready to focus.
For schools, this means the Children's Fitness Rig delivers benefits that go far beyond the equipment itself.
Life Skills in Action
The benefits of the Children's Fitness Rig extend well beyond physical fitness. Every day, children develop valuable social and emotional skills while using the equipment, including:
These valuable ‘life skills’ develop without children even realising it.
Many Ways to Use it!
The Children's Fitness Rig quickly becomes one of the most versatile pieces of equipment on the playground.
While it is a popular destination during break times and lunchtimes, giving children a fun way to burn off energy and stay active, its value extends far beyond free play.
Teachers can easily incorporate the Children's Fitness Rig into PE lessons, circuits, movement activities and structured sessions that support curriculum objectives in an engaging and practical way.
The Children’s Fitness Rig also comes into its own during sports day, helping pupils warm up for races.
At the end of the school day, it can even be incorporated into after school clubs, summer holiday clubs and enrichment programmes, creating even more opportunities for movement and exercise.
Inclusive by Design
One of the most impressive aspects of the Children's Fitness Rig is its inclusivity.
Unlike many traditional sports, there are no winners, losers or scoreboards. Children can participate at their own pace. This creates an environment where pupils who may not consider themselves ‘sporty’ feel comfortable getting involved.
Boys and girls engage equally enthusiastically, and the variety of activities means there is something for everyone regardless of ability, confidence level or sporting experience.
The wheelchair accessible Arm Bike further supports inclusion, helping schools create opportunities for all pupils to enjoy physical activity together.
Start Small, Grow Later
At £5,000 installed into grass, the Children's Fitness Rig represents an excellent starter package for schools looking to introduce outdoor gym equipment.
Many schools choose it as their first outdoor fitness installation because it offers multiple activities within a relatively compact footprint and budget.
It also provides an opportunity to assess pupil engagement and playground usage before making further investments.
As demand grows, schools often build around the Children's Fitness Rig with additional pieces from the Fresh Air Fitness range, gradually creating a larger outdoor fitness area tailored to their pupils' needs.
For many schools, the Children's Fitness Rig becomes the foundation of a much bigger outdoor activity space.
Funding Made Easier
School budgets are often under pressure, but funding support is often available.
To help schools explore potential funding opportunities, Fresh Air Fitness has created a dedicated Grant Funding Guide. The guide is designed to help schools identify suitable funding routes and understand the options available when planning outdoor fitness projects.
Many schools are surprised to discover the number of funding opportunities that may be available to support playground improvements and physical activity initiatives.
Make an Enquiry
If you would like to discuss the benefits of installing a Children’s Fitness Rig at your Primary School, our experienced team would be delighted to take your call on 01483 366599.
Alternatively, you can complete our online enquiry form.
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