The Developmental Benefits of Playground Equipment

If you have watched a lot of documentaries about baby animals, you know just how frequently play is included in their everyday life. As soon as they start walking, they combine almost any activity with play which is crucial for their overall growth. They learn how to feed themselves (some of them learn how to hunt), how to run, hide and climb trees. In other words they learn how to survive.

In this aspect, humans are no different either. There is not a single child on earth that does not enjoy playing. As a parent, you probably know how your child’s face lights up immediately when going to the playground. Fun does not have to end there. What could be better than bringing the playground into your yard? With all the different playground equipment that is sold (such as sand pits, picnic tables, cubby slides and swing) little can be left to your imagination.

You can surprise your child by turning your yard into a playground full of adventure with many spots to slide or swing, or even go as far as organising your own Alice in Wonderland tea party. The possibilities are endless.

To highlight the importance of different playground equipment for a child’s development, we will point out three among the most significant benefits: physical, mental and social.

When a child plays in the playground, the development of motor skills takes place and we might not even be aware of it at first sight. Depending on the games included, your child could build in strength and flexibility and have all muscles involved in the activity (for example during swinging, sliding, climbing the monkey bars or cubby house, as well as when playing at the sandpit, digging up and carrying sand).

All of the fun leads to the mental benefit. Through certain games, your child learns how to solve problems (find easier and safer ways of climbing the monkey bars, for example). Emotions (both positive and negative) are not excluded during play, and this is where your child can learn how to acquire a positive emotional behaviour by learning how to focus on some emotions more than others and when and which to control. Play is also important in this aspect because this is how kids become aware of their surroundings.

Games are the perfect opportunity for children to learn more words and extend their vocabulary. This leads to a higher level of language learning. Whenever your child plays with others, the development of social skills is inevitable, which is crucial for the well-being as a whole. As Diane Ackerman, a famous American essayist and naturalist, best summarised it, “Play is our brain’s favourite way of learning.”; play is the most ideal way to learn. No matter the age of your child, some scientists conducted research proving that play is the most effective way of learning. This does not only go for kids exclusively, but grown-ups as well. When we incorporate play into our activities, we are able to focus more on that certain activity and see the fun part of it.

Next time you think of finding more ways to entertain your kids, consider making your own playground. Both you and your kids will love it.