Larry C wrote:
....

I have been asked to build a picnic table for the local school. It will
go in the Pre-K and K play lot. I was thinking of building an octagon
one but I can't find a plan that does not have open benches. I would
like to have benches closed so that the kids will not fall off and you
can squeeze more kids onto the table.

I found a plan that has closed benches but I am a little nervous about
shrinking the plan down to little child size. I also found a child size
plan that has open benches which I think I can just extend the benches
to become closed.
....

On the last, nervousness, what's the fundamental difference between the
adult and the child one other than size that concerns you?

You'll have to ensure have enough structural material in doing the
shrinking, obviously, can't just ratio the dimensions of _everything_
except the table/bench heights and the ratios to make the proportions
suitable.

The problem is it takes a lot of perimeter to get very many kids around
one of those and that can lead to a lot of size of table top that isn't
of any use in the middle. If it's to be used for actual eating or
activities where each kid needs a space, the facing in an angled
position towards each other at the intersections also reduces that
functionality in comparison to the straight line orientation.

Need to consider what is purpose and numbers, etc., first and then be
guided from those design constraints/objectives.

One thing on the kiddie table plan shown -- all that flat surface
support is a problem from retaining a lot of moisture that will be a
rot-inducer and and will also tend to make it need a very flat surface
to keep from rocking--I'd toss that concept in the trash heap right off
the bat.

--