Do Children need Playground Equipment?
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In these times of austerity, is it worth spending money on playground equipment? Will children be just as happy with nothing to play with or on? Is playground equipment value for money? These are important questions and to answer them we need to look at the value of playground equipment for children.
Children need to be encouraged to use their imaginations. At Christmas, children often get lots of fun playing with the simplest presents, even the boxes that the presents come in. However they usually need something for that initial stimulus. To learn about the world around them from the earliest age we provide them with simple equipment to help them learn. Playground equipment falls into this category. On a Saturday or Sunday you only need to go to the local park or playing field to see the enjoyment that tiny children get from their first taste of playground equipment. This is usually a swing or a small slide. Here they are learning social skills such as turn taking and the thrill of the swing in a safe environment. Simple playground equipment is an essential part of childhood. To remove it from our children’s lives would be like giving them Christmas with no presents.
As children grow up, they need to extend their horizons and playground equipment can increase the challenges that children face, in the safety of a playground environment. Playnets are a type of climbing frame which allows groups of children to play at the same time. The challenge is to reach the top and enjoy climbing through the network. This encourages interaction with other children. Playnets increase co-ordination skills and confidence, and are also part of an active lifestyle.
Some playground equipment is relatively simple, and consequently relatively cheap. A tyre stepper can provide hours of fun and exercise, and again greatly improving co-ordination, as it is not as simple as it seems to step through a series of tyres. Also these can form part of a trim trail, where items such as wobble bridges and net climbers can be added. As you can choose the individual items, you can certainly get value for money by adding simple items to your trail, yet the advantages to children will be multiple.
Children can get many benefits from using playground equipment from such a simple item as a ball. However much more benefit can be obtained just by adding a net or goalpost, to turn an unstructured kick about into organised play. Children learn the importance of rules from playing team games, as well as learning about social interactions and life skills.
The playground is an integral part of a child’s life. Playground equipment represents value for money by enriching a child’s environment and allowing the opportunities for exercise, social interaction, improvement of co-ordination, extra confidence and enhanced imagination. Children learn through play. Many international bodies believe that a child has the right to play, and it is such an important part of a happy childhood. Playground equipment is a vital part of any child’s playground learning. |
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Author Resource:-
So to see the playground equipment available for schools, nurseries or public parks have a look online at Playground Markings Direct who have the best creative play equipment available at unbeatable prices.
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By :
Abbey smith
Submitted
2012-02-09 17:38:35 |
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