| We all know kids love playgrounds. Now, | | | | activity might face health consequences |
| research shows that playing on the | | | | as adults, and playgrounds are a fun, |
| playground can boost brainpower too! | | | | cost-effective way of ensuring that |
| Playing has been linked to emotional, | | | | children receive the recommended amount |
| social, motor and cognitive development. | | | | of daily physical activity. |
| Playgrounds facilitate the benefits of | | | | There are various physical development |
| pure, spontaneous and active free play. | | | | opportunities which playgrounds present. |
| Some ways they do it are listed below. | | | | Tactile panels promote manipulation and |
| Play and Free Play | | | | coordination; bridges and ramps promote |
| While we take the playing done by | | | | loco motor skills; and slides and swings |
| children for granted, we seldom ponder | | | | promote balance and coordination. Monkey |
| the mechanics of it. There are many ways | | | | bars and climbing ladders teach children |
| that children play and they have unique | | | | fine motor control such as reaching, |
| benefits to the child's development. | | | | grasping and releasing. There are also |
| Physical play such as running, jumping, | | | | ample opportunities for jumping, |
| dancing promotes physical fitness. | | | | running, balancing and stretching. |
| Fantasy play such as dressing up or | | | | Language Development, Intelligence, and |
| pretend play expands the mind and | | | | Social Skills |
| imagination. Young children play in a | | | | Through play children learn to develop |
| very simple manner, their games and | | | | their imagination, intelligence and |
| scenarios becoming more complex as they | | | | language. The playground allows children |
| grow and develop. | | | | to safely congregate with their peers |
| Although structured, organized activity | | | | and interact together. The children's |
| has its place in a child's day; it is | | | | eagerness to create and join in games |
| really through free, spontaneous play | | | | expands their social and communication |
| that a child is able to develop critical | | | | skills. |
| thinking, problem-solving and | | | | Through the act of creating games and |
| imagination. Since most children are | | | | inviting each other to play, children |
| naturally active, they often combine | | | | learn societal rules and functioning in |
| their natural tendency physical activity | | | | a group setting. Negotiation, |
| with playing. Playgrounds provide an | | | | cooperation and compromise are essential |
| optimal environment for a child to be | | | | talents children must possess in order |
| active, explore his environment, | | | | to feel comfortable and as if they |
| interact with his peers and play in his | | | | belong in their group of friends. |
| own unique style. | | | | The children's way of spontaneously |
| Brain Development | | | | creating "games" illustrates how playing |
| Most of us are aware of recent findings | | | | on a playground stimulates social and |
| that the most crucial period for brain | | | | emotional development. Children, whether |
| development is under the age of five. We | | | | they know each other or not, will |
| have all probably also heard that "play | | | | gravitate towards one another and start |
| is important for children". There is | | | | a game of "tag" or "hide and seek". Or |
| actual science behind that statement! | | | | perhaps an elaborate fantasy game will |
| The act of playing stimulates brain | | | | be created, with the playground |
| development and function. Vigorous gross | | | | structure being transformed into a |
| motor activity is also critical for | | | | castle and the children being assigned |
| proper brain development, by creating | | | | roles of knights, kings and wizards. In |
| and establishing vital neural pathways. | | | | order for the game to function smoothly, |
| Playgrounds help to develop a child's | | | | vital communication must take place, |
| cognitive development, because they | | | | through discussion, agreements and the |
| provide sensory-motor stimuli, which | | | | ability to resolve conflicts. A child |
| directly corresponds with the small | | | | who can not handle his frustrations, or |
| child's preferred method of learning. | | | | abide by the invented "rules" will find |
| Through running, climbing and | | | | himself out of the game. |
| pretending, the child is building his | | | | Summary |
| brain while having fun! | | | | There is more to a child's play than |
| Motor-skills | | | | meets the eye. Playing is crucial to the |
| There are reports which suggest that | | | | successful development of the brain, |
| children which fail to properly develop | | | | body and intellect. It helps to create |
| motor skills by the age 5 will likely | | | | neural pathways that will last the rest |
| have a hard time developing the | | | | of the child's life. Playing promotes |
| essential skills later on. The best | | | | motor development by exploring and |
| place to gain those skills at an early | | | | expanding the limits of the child's |
| age seems to be the playground. Toddlers | | | | growing body. Finally, through playing |
| have a chance to explore new | | | | with his peers the child learns social, |
| surroundings and learn new skills, while | | | | emotional and oral skills. |
| older children enjoy the challenge of | | | | Playground equipment and space provide a |
| testing their strength and trying more | | | | suitable environment for a young child |
| difficult pieces of equipment. | | | | to engage in appropriate developmental |
| Playgrounds provide the space children | | | | play. The fact that it is a fun activity |
| need to freely run and expend their | | | | that most children enjoy will have |
| energy and advance to the next stage of | | | | lasting positive effects on their |
| development. Children who lack physical | | | | overall development. |