Looking at the big picture, playgrounds are a place to spend time, have fun, and gain new friends. But if you look closely, fun is not the only benefit playgrounds provide for our little angels. According to play experts, playgrounds provide the much-needed development children need as they grow, namely physical, social, and cognitive areas. And the playground equipment installed is responsible for this growth.

However, not every playground is successful in fostering growth. That is why playgrounds also deserve attention from adults to make sure the right equipment and design are installed.

Physical skills

According to experts, children need at least 60 minutes of free play every day to help them fight obesity and promote growth in their locomotive skills. A well-designed and planned playground convinces children to get moving without letting them feel boredom or stopping. In order to achieve this, a playground should have the following:

Variety — there is no “one size fits all” for a playground to target every skill a child needs to develop; variety is a necessity. Variety can come in different forms: can be small spaces, changes in surfaces, changes in levels, bushes, colors, textures, trees, mud holes, and more. Not only does this attract other age groups, variety ignites the curiosity and adventure in a child’s heart.

Flexibility — instead of making a playground that has equipment that does the same thing; the playground should be able to allow diverse activity, which includes games, solitary play, and play with natural elements.

Accessibility — play activities should be accessible to any children out there in the neighborhood. The playground should be easy to find and to go, especially for low-income areas.

Social Skills

A majority of playgrounds are created to target a certain age, limiting the chance of other age groups and even constricting learning and playing possibilities. A solution to this is creating the best of both worlds, and an environment where play is interconnected; therefore, establishing more diverse activities for different age groups.

Cognitive Skills

Obviously, physical skills can be developed when kids play on the playground, but it also conditions the mind, too. Make playgrounds foster mind growth by focusing on these elements:

Creativity — make sure there are spacious areas within the playground in order to let kids use their imagination and create an environment of their own and play in it.

Difficulty — playgrounds should be a challenge to children, making them go beyond their limits and feel a sense of accomplishment when they are able to finish a certain level.

Participation — for local playgrounds, officials can let children participate in making the playground in order to get insights and making playgrounds child-friendly.

There are many ways on how to make a playground lively and perfect for creative play. This can be made possible with the help of the whole community or by hiring a professional playground equipment manufacturer, and iREC has over 25 years of manufacturing and installing playground equipment on indoor playgrounds, and it trusted by international organizations in terms of safety and fun. Let your kids enjoy the day with playgrounds made by experts. Call +63 47 250 2779 or email sales@irec.ph for more information.