In December 2016 we purchased a playground set for the children. They love it and are so happy it’s here. Playgrounds are more than just fun places for the children to spend free time. They can help all children—especially those with learning and attention issues—develop important skills.
Swinging is a basic playground activity that can aid children’s development in many areas. It helps with balance and teaches them to know where their body is in space. And it also gives them practice with fine motor skills (gripping the chain), gross motor skills (pumping his legs to swing higher) and coordination (putting it all together). What’s more, swinging helps the brain learn to make sense of speed and direction, which may be beneficial for children’s with visual-perception issues.
Climbing playground equipment can help children’s development. The same is true for climbing trees. Here’s why: In order to climb, children’s needs to build an awareness of where their body parts are and what they can do with them. Climbing helps make them aware of directions (like up, down, left and right). Climbing also encourages problem solving and predicting what’s going to happen. For example, children may wonder, “Where should my right foot go next? How will I get down from the top?” This kind of flexible thinking can help on the playground and in the classroom.
Equipment like this is great for kids who have trouble with motor planning. Learning to move one hand at a time from bar to bar can help your child practice coordination and balance. They’ll also learn how to judge where the next bar is in relation to their body.
