Play Is Not a Four Letter Word

One of the most consistent activities in a child's life, especially in the infant stage of life. A child always looks for a way to play at every chance they get and as many times as they can during the day. Many parents see play as a waste of their child's time and would rather see their children spend this time on other activities; however, play may be more significant and essential than parents think. Play may instill valuable skills and teachings in children's minds, and what a child learns can remain with them for life. playground equipment

Significance of play

While it may sound ridiculous, the effects of play go a long way to creating an adult with valuable life skills. Some of the essential benefits of play include:

Stimulates creativity: In the modern world, creativity seems to be more relevant daily. When a child plays, thanks to the absence of adult interference, the children have to find ways to overcome any challenge they encounter and this kind of creative nature usually translates into their adult life and is very useful in navigating the rigors of adulthood. They also learn how to act independently and to think for themselves, which are necessary traits to be productive members of society.

A cherished childhood: Memories are a significant part of a person's psyche. Therapeutic reports of some of the most dangerous minds have shown that most of these individuals were not exposed to events like play during their childhood. Playing fills a childhood with cherished memories, and this can help build a productive society member.

Develop social skills: Children usually play in groups with other children of similar age groups. This creates a robust socializing ability in the children, as they have no problem socializing when they grow old. An inability to socialize can lead to undesirable situations like depression, which can prove fatal, especially since an event could have avoided it as mundane and generic as play. An inability to socialize can also lead to creating a depraved mind. preschool playground

Learning still occurs: Play-based learning is one of the most progressive forms of education and learning. In play-based learning, children learn through active participation in activities (active learning), and since there are no confines of a classroom or pressure to participate, the children tend to participate willingly, as opposed to the traditional setting where a a child can be isolated and detached from the rest of the class. In addition to the educational benefits that are gained, there is also another valuable skill, like teamwork, which is highly valued in the workplace today, and there is also the ability to take the initiative, another rare and highly valued commodity in the labor market.

Thanks to these factors, it is clear that there is more to the art of play than meets the eye. Parents and teachers are advised to incorporate play into their children's schedule to help ensure that these children turn out to be productive members of society. 

Playground Equipment Safety and Maintenance

Playgrounds are places where children make the best memories of their childhood. They not only laugh and play but learn many new experiences on the playgrounds. Not only this, playgrounds play a significant role in shaping the social behaviors of kids and making new friends.

Although commercial playground equipment today is safer than the previous years, there is always a chance of getting injured while playing at the modern playgrounds. There are many playground-related injuries that are a major threat to our children’s lives. Today, we have come up with four ways you can make the playgrounds safer for your kids.

1. Supervise kids play

Adult supervision is one of the key components of a playground safety strategy. We can better control how our kids play under our supervision. When adults are around the kids when they are playing using playground equipment, they make sure that the kids do not engage in any risky game activity. Adults help kids understand the distance from the equipment, and ensure that elder kids do not violate the playing limits. Even if you don’t do anything, having parents or caregivers around help kids regulate their playing behavior. 

2. Safety Instructions

If you are advocating for the safety of the children on the playground, then the first thing would be to make sure that the outdoor playground equipment in the playground meets the safety standards of watchdog organizations. Look for the recommendations of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. From the past few decades, advancements in technology have produced new playground equipment. As a result, there have been changes to the surface requirements and safety guidelines. Some of the basic guidelines that should not be missed include: 

a) Proper labeling and signage on the equipment

b) Sightline to track the children anywhere in the playground 

c) Safe surface materials including engineered wood fiber, sand, and pea gravel

3. Maintenance 

Once you have safe and modern equipment in place, it is also important to keep checking it periodically to ensure it is working optimally. Proper maintenance makes sure that the school playground equipment is in safe working order. Any obstruction like rocks or stumps of trees must be cleared from the playground area. Soft seats must be installed in place of metal or wooden swing seats. There should not be any sharp edges, instead, make them smooth. All the platforms must be timely repaired. There is another safety rule that the cushioned surface should extend at least 6 feet beyond the equipment. Finally, replace all the worn-out materials to avoid any dangerous situation.

4. Use Age-Related Equipment

Playground equipment today is made according to the age groups and ability levels. It is important to ensure that any equipment that your kids play with must be age-appropriate. Similarly, there is a ladder height of 60 inches for kids in their preschool years. Moreover, age guidelines must be clearly displayed on the playground equipment.

New Commercial Playground Installation in Johnsonburg Pennsylvania

This new project features a unique Themed Commercial Playground Design from our Ancient Tribe Series including straw textured roofs, stepping pods, climbers, overhead ladders, slides and more. Enjoy! School Playground

How to Keep Children Safe and Playful at Church

You would have seen most of the parents worried about their kids during the Sunday worship sermons
and other church events. Although there is church playground equipment at the church to keep the
children involved, still Pastors and church management have a huge responsibility to keep our precious
kids and young children safe.
Here are some suggestions to keep you children playful and safe at church:
Church safety and security
Recently there has been some rash incidents of church and school shootings. While church management
has been quick to hire police and security guards to monitor outside and inside of children’s areas, there
are a few more steps required for the safety of the church.

• The church and the adjoining spaces should be well lit including the parking lots.
• The church playground equipment for the kids must be secure and properly fenced. These playground areas must be monitored round the clock and built away from the roads or woods.
• The emergency evacuation procedures including the fire safety must be properly written down along with the instructions and properly understood.
• All the extra doors outside the church must be locked during the church hours and a guard posted at entry and exit points.
• In case a child gets hurt or falls ill, the workers must reach the parents at the earliest.
• For the purpose, there must a church-parent alert system that connects workers and parents.
• The area for the kids in the church must be carefully selected keeping in mind their safety.
• The classrooms for the kids must have viewing window doors open out to the grounds, parking lots or streets.
• Children’s area must be clean and childproofed with safety equipment.

Best Tiles for Playground

Does probability of getting injured scare you when you take your kids to a playground? Do you often hear about playground injuries and you are unable to help it? A playground should be one of the safest public places where children could play worry-free, but unfortunately, the reality isn’t what it should be!
 
The manufacturers focus on installing the best preschool playground equipment and school playground equipment while making a playground structure, but they hardly focus on floors. In this post, I will talk about the five best playground tiles that should be, in fact, MUST BE spread in order to ensure kids’ safety.

1. Sterling Rubber Athletic Tiles

The standout feature of these tiles is the unbeatable price. Can you imagine getting a 2x2 title just in $23? Yes, you can get sterling rubber athletic at this price that makes around $.8/Square foot.

When I first came to know about the price, I got pretty certain it mustn’t be robust and long-lasting, but, guess what? I was amazed to realize I was totally wrong because the quality doesn’t get low with the lowered cost. They are strong enough to bear the heaviest equipment as they are tightly connected to ensure a simple yet closed interlocking system. 

Precaution

Despite the robustness, it is advisable not to use these tiles in a playground with tall equipment as they aren’t made to protect from falling. They should be used in the outdoor exercise areas.

2. Sterling Tiles

If falling injury is your biggest fear, then sterling tiles should be your first choice as they are designed for height falling protection. Greatmats has given them the first rating on fall height protection and it has also been given a rating of 10 ft height fall by the American Society for Testing Materials.

The reason why they provide ultra security is the highly engineered shock absorbers located inside. Furthermore, the thickness of these titles also contributes to the protection. What is more, they are vandal-resistant that doesn’t only make them tough, but also provide durability and safety.

3. Interlocking Tiles

Installing titles on a playground and then maintaining them, later on, are the toughest job to perform while playground manufacturing. You can simplify this task up to a great extent by using the interlocking tiles as they are made from recycled rubbers that make the task of connecting tiles hassle-free and as easy as a piece of cake. You won’t need any heavy equipment and expensive specialized contractors for installing these tiles.

4.  Roof Top Sterling Tiles

These tiles make an area multipurpose due to its versatile quality. If you are planning to utilize the playground for more than just playing, get sterling roof tiles without giving a second thought. They can be used on rooftops, patios, and even decks. Additional benefits include attractiveness due to the availability of different colors, safety (non-slip flooring), and a lifetime warranty.

I hope the above-mentioned choices will help you in making a safe playground. However, if you are looking forward to making a vibrant yet secure playground, then the rubber tile max day bright should be your choice. Are you ready to provide your kids with secure flooring so they can play safe?

Social Benefits of Outdoor Playing

Human beings have social needs. We all need family and friends to live a happy and healthy life. Just like adults, kids also have these needs and it is important to enhance their social skills at an early age to live a communal adulthood. Once again, outdoor playing helps in this area just like it aids in the physical and emotional growth of kids.

Playgrounds expose kids to experiences necessary for their physical, emotional, and social growth. Since I have talked enough about the first two aspects, I will be revealing how playing outdoor makes kids socially sound.

Why Kids Like Playing Outdoors?
It sure is difficult to motivate kids to play outside as they are magnetically attracted to digital screens, but once you take them, they love spending time outdoors. If you ask a kid why they like to play outdoors so much, one of the reasons they give is it gives them a chance to meet their friends and talk to them.

In the formal classroom settings, they have restrictions that inhibit their social growth, and same is the case at homes. They need to do homework, have lunch and dinner on time, prepare their bags and uniform for school the next day when they go home. Such robotic life doesn’t let them grow socially. Therefore, it is advisable to take your kids to a nearby playground for at least an hour regularly.

Playing in Group vs. Playing Alone

There may or may not be other kids in the playground when you take your children to play. The playground equipment and commercial playground equipment make a complex social network when kids play in groups. These tools teach them everyday lessons such as behaving in groups, waiting for their turns, interacting with peers, social norms, and most importantly, skills to build relationships. Furthermore, it makes them proficient in negotiations and teaches them self-control.

Now, you must be thinking playing alone is a waste, right? Well, that’s not true! Do not take your little ones back home if there are no kids in the playground to play with them. Many people think playing alone makes kids shy. On the contrary, it makes them independent and promotes imagination and creativity in them. Moreover, it removes boredom and improves their observation because they learn social cues by watching kids playing at a distance.

Inclusive Playing 

I won’t be wrong if I say inclusive playing is the second name for social playing. Inclusion is of great importance that children learn from inclusive playing. According to a research, children value the kids in their minds who play with them. The fruits of such social games are ripped later in the adulthood because children who had the exposure to outdoor playing become socially sound.

However, disabled children are unable to learn social skills most of the times because of surfacing or lack of inclusive equipment for them. Therefore, ensuring inclusive playground equipment for both disabled and non-disabled kids is one way to improve society.

How Restrictions in Playing Effects Children’s Well-Being?

Unreasonable restrictions in children’s playing have created many negative impacts on children’s learning abilities. If we look at the reasons behind these restrictions, we find both the negative and positive aspects. The limitations are meant to ensure safety within playground structures; however, they can limit children’s learning, confidence, and independence. According to experts, children are needed to get out and play in order to grow and advance, and such restrictions can be a hindrance in their path of learning.

Not only does it create individual problems, they also create social problems. When children are being restricted from being independent while playing, their social skills do not develop as much they need to be. They become slower in problem-solving and find difficulty in coping with stress and depression in adulthood.

According to a research, most of the children and teenagers who are bad at fighting depression and anxiety face a lot of limitations in play. We come across several examples where kids are being stopped from playing independently as a safety measure. Up to some extent, it’s correct, but the elders should make sure the restrictions they are putting aren’t unreasonable for kids.

Children, especially school going kids, should be given a free access to preschool playground equipment when they are allowed to play outside. Kids love exploring and discovering new things; therefore, let them do it. Moreover, it is important to note that every kid is different with unique mental and physical abilities. As a result, his observations and learning capabilities also differ, but all kids need independence to be creative.

Extending the Life of Your Outdoor Playground Equipment

Creative Systems Installed Structure

It’s no secret that playgrounds will be on every child’s to-do list once the summer vacations begin. And once school’s off, you can expect playgrounds and parks to be regularly occupied with children and their families. So, considering the sudden surge in attendance, what can you do to make sure that your outdoor playground equipment is functioning at peak reliability and performance? We’ve outlined a few steps that you can take to ensure better care of your play structures.

Schedule Monthly Maintenance

This one’s a no-brainer. Commercial playground equipment maintenance goes through a lot of wear and tear and before the whole things comes crumbling down, it’s important to fix and patch the little issues that prevail. Skipping on maintenance can not only prove costly in the long run, but can also be dangerous to use for the children.

Playground Maintenance by Creative Recreational Systems. inc, 

Know When to Replace

It’s vital to realize that certain playground equipment can’t be salvaged once their time is up. Knowing when to scrap the existing equipment and bringing in new is essential. Swing sets, merry go rounds and slides if damaged mechanically, need to be replaced completely. Repairs might get the job done temporarily but can prove to be a safety concern each time someone uses them.

Resurfacing the Grounds and Adding Shades

Foam Padding can add a layer of safety for children, but it is important to know when to have it replaced. If your playground is carpeted or has artificial grass, it can get incredibly hot to sit on. Adding shades is a great way of bringing your playground’s temperature down.

Armed with these key steps, you can almost be certain that your playground is not only set for the coming season, but for a much longer time.

Read More: Shade Structures in Playgrounds and Their Benefits

Must-To-Do Things with Your Kids This Summer

Summers bring so many opportunities to have fun. Sunny days and warm nights call for a lot of fun and physical exercise that not only allows for spending pent up energy but also helps in staying healthy. This is especially true for children. Their young minds and bodies need constant workout to function and grow properly. The best part about summers is the holidays. However, there is only so much time kids can spend on the commercial playground equipment before they get bored. Besides school playground equipment is always available so holidays should bring something different for them to enjoy and have fun with. So here are some exciting ideas for parents to plan this summer vacations and have a quality fun time with the little ones.

Have a Fishing Trip

This is not only an entertaining activity for summers but it is also a very important skill for the little ones to learn. Also if you get to catch a big fish, that is a celebration in itself. Take your kids out for a fishing trip to the nearest sight and have a picnic. Take some food materials like bread, ketchup and juices. Catch some fish and cook it on site to have a proper picnic and a day filled with smiles.
While you are planning for a fishing trip, you might also consider a trip to some beach. Make some sand castles and teach your little ones to swim near the shore. It will be an excellent way to beat the heat and to have some summer fun, all at once.

A Road Trip Would Be Great Too

Kids love to take trips. Even the fussiest of them get excited at the chance of seeing something new or playing at different commercial playground equipment. Spend some time looking for the places nearby or in the outskirts of the city where you live and plan a weekend away from home enjoying the scenery or the attractions in the area. Pack an extra pair of clothes and teach the kids usefulness of travelling light.

Chase an Ice Cream Truck

The number of cafés and ice cream parlors these days is too high to leave ice cream as much fun as it used to be. Children’s love for ice cream hasn’t reduced though. To add some extra dose of fun in the ice cream, keep an ear out for the sound of the ice cream truck and next time it is in your neighborhood, get out of the home and chase it with your kids. Get them their favorite flavors and enjoy it on the walk back home on a sunny afternoon.

An equally delicious alternative to chasing a truck would be to make some ice cream at home. Download a recipe from internet or ask grandma for her expert opinion. Make your own ice cream and home and allow kids to enjoy as much as they want as a summer holidays treat.

Have a Camping Night Out

Nothing would beat the experience of a camping trip. The entire process of packing bags and tents, to erecting those tents in sand or soil and spending the night out is entertaining and educational. However, if it is difficult to go someplace out of home, your backyard would be an equally good place to start. Prepare some barbeque in your own backyard and sleep in a tent outside. Tell your kids stories under the stars or do some star gazing for a memorable summer night.

Plant a Garden or Paint Rocks

Summers allow for some fun outdoor time. While it may be difficult to enjoy outdoors under the scorching sun, the early mornings and evenings are great to spend out of home. This summer season plant a garden in your backyard or in your front lawn. If you have more than one kid, then get different plants or different colors for flower plants. Each child gets to take care of one plant and then compete on whose plants gives most flowers and looks the best.

Alternatively, bring some rocks for your lawn and get the little ones to paint them as they please. Allow them to put their creativity and love for colors to use and get a delightful addition to your house.

Enjoy fall with Your Children

Summer is officially over and with Halloween behind us, we can finally look at ways in which play can be fun not just for children, but for the entire family. But there’s a problem. With winter looming around the corner, temperatures have inevitably fallen, so outdoor play is limited to mornings or warmer afternoons only. And with shortened days, that can be a problem as you juggle between work and your family. So how does one exactly manage a situation as this?

It’s simple if you give it a little thought, if we’re honest. Bring the play indoors! No matter what the season, play for children shouldn’t pause a bit, and they should be encouraged to have fun with the entire family. You can make sure that they do by getting hold of some church playground equipment for your home and keep your young ones busy as you go through the day.

If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, a trip to the beach or the woods should make for a decent family picnic. The weather isn’t too harsh yet to stop you from coastline breeze nor does it get foggy enough to cause visibility issues in the woods. This can especially help on the weekends and instead of being bogged down at home, why not go out and enjoy as a family?

Amusement parks are another place where you can visit as a family and have a fun time. Amusements parks in the autumn months are especially a treat you can expect a lot of carnivals and theme parks randomly popping up (if they aren’t already there). Amusement parks should fill in for whatever kids miss at the beach and they guarantee a great time too.

But if none of these flatter you, you could opt for the last option and visit a large playground or park. The great thing about this decision is that you can (if you try) visit the area on weekdays as well as on the weekends. And the fun is unlimited as children spend hours playing on the outdoor playground equipment there. And in the rare circumstance that your neighborhood playground or park doesn’t feature impressive play-structures, you can always check out the Creative Recreational Systems Inc. website to view some of the best ones available and get one for yourself.

The choices are endless this fall, and entertaining your children isn’t going to be a hassle anymore.

Playgrounds or Playscapes

Children these days don’t seem to be fettered by the lack of outdoor play they get and this is a cause for concern. Virtual play has taken place of physical and outdoor play and the big pile of homework every child gets these days, doesn’t help a bit either. So in a world where we need to make going out and playing fun again, are normal playgrounds sufficient as an answer or do we need a dose of creativity?

I think adults could do with a change and introduce the idea of playscapes on a more prevalent manner. Now most of you would be wondering what the difference is between a playground and a playscape – but the two are quite the polar opposites in terms of outlook and aesthetics. A playground, in essence, is an area that houses outdoor playground equipment for children to play on. Swing sets, slides and hanging bars make up the entertainment aspect of a playground as children gather to have a good time. Playscapes incorporate nature and the aspects of a traditional playground to create a diverse area of play.

Nowadays, you see playgrounds in almost every neighborhood and almost everyone them features the same repeated themes. You can see the same types of play-structures in each playground that you visit, only colored differently, and that creates a general bland look and feel to the area. This feeling is picked up by children very quickly, and as they demand more from outdoor play, it doesn’t provide to be sufficient enough. Playscapes can help with this problem. By incorporating nature and play, you’re making a diverse environment for children to play in. Using big rocks, logs, plants and trees can help children become accustom to coming into contact with newer things and even species! And including trails, tunnels and other natural hideouts can help children use their imaginations to the full, opening doors to better playing opportunities.

Although we are big fans of playgrounds, but playscapes have won us over, especially when you consider the latter replacing an old and boring play area. So if you want to spice things up in your playground or are looking to build a commercial playscape, you can head on down to the Creative Recreational Systems Inc. website to get hold of some truly fantastic commercial playground equipment. Their site is inundated with the best playground equipment available in markets today, and all of them guarantee your children to have the best playing time of their lives!

Staying Fit at Playgrounds

Playgrounds are conceived as areas where all you do is run around or climb up on some outdoor

playground equipment the entire day but that’s not their only purpose. What many people don’t realize is that playgrounds can be used as an effective substitute for the gym. Surprised? Well, it’s true. Not all playgrounds feature gym equipments in them but most do, and since the trend for general fitness has caught on, you’re more likely to find them in your locality now more than ever. And the benefits of such an environment are endless!

First of all, the obvious advantage would be the fitness boost you’d get here. Most of the equipment in parks and playgrounds are uncomplicated and very simple pieces but are almost just as effective as going to the gym would be. This is especially true if you’re not an existing member of a gym and would like to get your fitness back on track. The fitness equipment at playgrounds help you take the first step and ensure you keep up on your progress on a daily basis.

Another positive of such a setting is the time saving element. If you lead a busy life and have to manage between work and family, it can be very hard to squeeze a few hours to actually drive to your nearest gym and workout. Not to mention the constant risk of injury - this would hamper not only your gym schedule, but work days too.

The last, and perhaps the best advantage of working out outdoors in playgrounds, is that it doesn’t cost a penny! Local playgrounds and parks are normally free to use, even for an extended period of time so you’ll be getting your health on track, without worrying of it affecting your budget. Plus, they’re definitely better than the hundreds of dollars you’d pay on gym membership fees and other costs.

So the next time you head out to the playground with your children, don’t hang around the commercial playground equipment area and spend some time working out in the fitness section too. It’s time we all paid attention to our health and fitness and this is the best and easiest way to do so. And if your neighborhood playground doesn’t feature gym equipment for playgrounds, check out the Creative Recreational Systems Inc. website. Their catalogs are filled with some of the best and sturdiest outdoor gym equipment along with the greatest outdoor playground equipment. So find one that suits you best today!

Till the next time.