Research has demonstrated that "contact with nature may be as important for children as good nutrition and sleep." But recess, and playgrounds, are just as important now as they were a hundred years ago. (Frost, 2004). Play is critical for kids to develop the emotional, social and creative thinking skills they’ll need when they’re adults. 40. 6. (McSorley, 2013). Learning and play cannot be divided one from the other, as, "Any early childhood educator will tell you, play is how children make sense of the world." "url": "https://www.miracle-recreation.com/content/themes/miracle/assets/img/logo-miracle.png" }, Why is playing important? "name": "Miracle Recreation", Sand and water features help kids with sharing, negotiating, and engaging in group play. The importance of children’s playtime outdoors at a neighborhood play area. Handy for Parents too! 56. The playground...a lot of people have very specific memories of their school years and what it meant to go to the playground for "recess". This has led to an epidemic of childhood obesity, as well as behavior-regulating medicines - and so playgrounds are seen as a natural solution to a list of growing problems. 60. Both newly constructed and renovated playgrounds today should incorporate theme-based options, such as a wet sand area, to encourage children to use their creativitiy. The equipment in playgrounds helps children of any age level to develop motor skills. PlaygroundEquipment.com 1 Playground Drive Greenfield, IN 46140 Toll Free 1-800-667-0097 International 1-317-747-0203 Fax 1-317-855-9247 What is interesting about playgrounds is that they can be found in many styles and many settings. During this stage, kids take what they learned from the earlier stages of play and use it to engage with other children and practice playing. (Bornstein, 2011). (Ross, 2012). It enables them to explore ideas and different ways to behave, testing their boundaries and growing in the process. 7. (Magher, 2014). It is a natural tool for children to develop resiliency as they learn to cooperate, overcome challenges, and negotiate with others. Playground equipment and space can meet the needs of children 0-5 by providing different opportunities to engage in appropriate developmental play. From birth until about 2 years old, children are also in the solitary play stage. In the first few months, a baby enters the unoccupied play stage. An off-shoot of the woman's suffrage movement succeeded in pressing for a number of social programs for families and children, so that urban landscaping became a project for philanthropists and local governments. It puts to use the perceptual motor skills and increases fitness ability. | Hire Playground Installers, Four Seat Teeter by Little Tikes Commercial - AAA State of Play, Freddy The Frog Spring Rider by Childworks, Animal Ride - AAA State of Play, Free Standing Lily Pads by Sii - AAA State of Play, Freenotes Harmony Park | Outdoor Musical Instruments for Playgrounds | AAA State of Play, Freestanding Crawl Tunnel inspires curiosity within small children - AAA State of Play, Galvanized Steel Spike for Landscape Timbers from Child Works - AAA State of Play, Gas N Go Trike Storage by Infinity Playgrounds - AAA State of Play, Geodome and Geodesic Climber - Playground Equipment | AAA State of Play, Get a Fast, Free Quote on Autistic Playground Equipment | Easy Ordering: Multiple Payment Methods Accepted, Get an Affordable ADA Ramp for Your Accessible Play Space | Quick Shipping | High-Quality ADA Wheelchair Ramps for Landscape Timbers - AAA State of Play, Get More out of the Playground with these Basketball Drills | AAA State of Play, Get Playground Design Ideas and Commercial-Grade Materials at a Low Price | Design a Playground Today, Glossary of Terms for Playground Equipment | AAA State of Play, Grant and Funding Guide for Commercial Playground Equipment, Great Prices on a Durable Bouncy Horse or Spring Rider | Order a Spring Rocking Horse Toy and Get Fast Shipping! If you had to really think about that, then you need to start considering the real importance of kids playgrounds and how they are essential in your child’s childhood. Climber With Our Great Low Prices | Outdoor Climbing Toys for All Ages | Get a Free Quote Now - AAA State of Play, Save on Day-Care Supplies: Get Low Prices on Child Care Center Equipment and Fast Shipping! ", The playground could be full of fixed gear and other equipment, sandy areas, water features, and more. Of course, in any situation where opinions and facts meet, there are bound to be controversies, and while many people have only the most positive memories of their childhood years at the playground, others paint a less favorable picture. No matter the size of your project, our team of talented representatives can help you every step of the way in creating your ideal playground. "author": { 51. In the 21st century, this frequently manifests as less time spent playing and more time spent texting or playing computer games. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of play in child development. 68. 46. 9. 13. This time is when they’ll also begin to learn about game play and rules. "logo": { Sadly, as kids grow older, you may need to encourage them to find time for outdoor play. For more details, please refer to our, The Importance of Play in Child Development, Miracle® Recreation Wants to Help Your Kids Have Fun, United Nations High Commission for Human Rights recognizes it as a right of every child, Creating a Playground for Visually Impaired Children, The Role of Play in the Mental Health of Children, How to Choose a Theme for Your Community Playground, The Importance of Joy in Child Development. When was the last time you took your child to the park? }. 19. We do not sell your personal information, and only obtain personal information with your consent. 62. One reason children look forward to playtime is that it gives them a chance to see and engage with their friends outside of organized activity, like school. The wonderful thing about free play in the outdoors is that it offers different benefits to different age groups. Why playgrounds are an essential part of primary school life. The importance of a kids playground. The "Novelty-Arousal Theory" indicates that people function better when they experience a change of pace. It improves their thinking skills and problem-solving abilities and helps them develop many of the skills they’ll need in adult life. Want to be a pirate? One study demonstrated that, "Children became more on task and less fidgety on days when they had recess," and this held true for kids with attention disorders as well as children without such disorders. "dateModified": "2021-02-24" Cognitive development from the use of swings includes problem solving, dramatic imagination, and mental representation. But it also helps them learn when it’s OK to break away from rules that may not be fair to everyone. Playgrounds benefit children’s physical health, but also play an essential role in their psychosocial development. "image": "https://www.miracle-recreation.com/content/uploads/2018/08/1Header-MiracleRecreation-TheImportanceofPlayinChildDevelopment.jpg", 24. 34. Playgrounds, as you now see, are more than just areas where kids can be kept busy or "go run around outside" for a while. "datePublished": "2018-08-17", Playgrounds are a prime location for allowing kids to maintain and build cardiovascular endurance and health. Playgrounds provide kids with playtime unencumbered by pre-conceived stories, characters, and plot lines. In other words, why, the author wonders, is it seemingly forgotten that it is unstructured play that has such an impact on intelligence, education, and social skills? 65. Observational skills are enhanced by lessons and playtime outdoors on playgrounds. (Bornstein, 2011). | Get Great Service and Fast Shipping of a Spiral Tube Slide, Buy Affordable Commercial Playground Slides Kids Love! They start to assume adult roles and think in abstract ways about play. 30. To learn about leadership, cooperation, and play means doing so among peers rather than within the sibling group. And perhaps the one we didn’t mention earlier may be among the most important: Playing outdoors is fun. Natural playgrounds for preschools and child care programs are a growing trend for a reason – studies show that they aid children in a number of dimensions. They start to learn how to share and develop rudimentary problem-solving skills. It allows kids to be independent, to learn how to make decisions on their own to achieve a result. "@id": "https://www.miracle-recreation.com/blog/why-are-playgrounds-important/" We'll look at them under specific headings, starting with what the research and "experts" have discovered, and then looking at such things as their health benefits, their societal benefits, and more. Studies have demonstrated that physically active students have improved academic performance and easily obtained higher test scores as well as developing a far better outlook toward school. Research continually demonstrates that kids who are physically active in school are also likely to be physically active at home. Playgrounds are such an important urban resource that many cities now have "apps" that allow parents to find all of the playgrounds, read reviews, and even get details about play groups and more. In addition to the social, emotional and mental benefits of playtime, there are also numerous physical benefits of play for kids. Research as far back as 1885 proves that learners fare better when breaks are incorporated into their efforts. It’s kind of scary. 27. For most, it was a short time following lunch, and it was the one chance to blow off steam, run, holler, and just be a kid. The Children Act, 2004, places a duty on local … 57. 71. … Sitting in classrooms for several hours without any break can lead to wasted time in the classroom. The great thing about play is that it allows children to use their imaginations to create all those worlds where they can be anything they want to be. Swings provide a lot of physical development that includes grasping, balance, landing, jumping, pushing, turning, rhythm, pectoral muscle use, and more. Do they really "need" a playground? Playgrounds can promote a sense of curiosity and even wonder at the natural world. Teachers need to be cognizant of the age-appropriate play material/equipment and furniture for the classroom. To decipher the importance of playgrounds for children, it’s helpful first to understand exactly what play is and how it helps children develop. This brings water, oxygen, and glucose to the brain at a higher rate than it does to the brain of the sedentary child. 42. (Hammond, 2012). The decline of playgrounds has a known link to behavioral problems, ADHD, and to "stunted" cognitive, social, and creative development. Happiness is a byproduct of outdoor play on a playground, and thus "joy begets joy" when kids can continually head outdoors to explore, learn, and grow. 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