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a child play is an important part of growing up. Play helps a child
learn to get along with others, improve perceptive and emotional
well-being, build physical strength, learn about the world around
them, and makes them more aware as they resolve problems, overcome
difficulties, and participate in tasks that are fun.
The Benefits
of Play
When children are allowed the time and space to play their
imaginations take over and they explore their ideas. Play spaces do
not have to be large; they just have to inspire play. Children are
natural explorers and different types of play facilitate different
types of learning, all necessary for growth. Children need play
opportunities as they develop language, motor skills, social skills,
and emotional and cognitive abilities. There is no one way to play.
Instead, each type of play builds off what the child has already
learned and as they learn they should be allowed the time to make
memories, laugh, and have fun!
Why Play is
Important for Child Development
So, how do we make a fun play environment for our children? Start
from a child’s point of view. Make it simple. If you have to, sit on
the floor or crawl around the area to see what the children might
see. Children’s furniture, small benches, or even pillows or small
sofas or recliners amongst the adult furniture inside the house will
give them a space of their own but still feel like part of the
family. Discard or put away anything that might be dangerous to the
children.
Think carefully about how you set up the environment
for play so that you are not regularly disturbed while allowing them
to play freely in a child-safe space. Arrange the play space wisely.
When there is room, set up shelves or furniture to divide the room
into different play areas: reading, art center, baby dolls, blocks,
etc. If space does not allow for stations of play, at least separate
the toys with baskets that the kids can handle on their own to find
what they want to play with. Make sure there is a variety of toys,
and each toy has its place. For little ones be sure to have toys
that push, pull, grab, fill, and dump.
If your children are lucky enough to have a playroom where they can
just be kids use bright colors on the walls and curtains. Add child
size furniture, cubbies for toys, and decal decorations or
chalkboard paint so they can be creative. Put up a cloth teepee or
an indoor tent for privacy; we all need a moment alone now and then.
For a little money, make a climbing wall on one of the walls in the
room. Be sure the floor is durable and easy to clean. Don’t forget
about rugs with streets for little cars, games to play, or maps for
learning about the solar system or geography. How about a ball pit
with a large box and bunch of bouncy balls? Think outside the toy
box using materials to sort, trade, and share; dress-up clothes and
props; puzzles and games; and of course, a great selection of books
that meet the child’s age. Let your imagination go as you prepare
the perfect playroom for your little one. An indoor slide or teeter
totter might be just the thing to complete the playroom.
With warmer temperatures around the corner parents
and grandparents alike are thinking about what to do with their
children all summer when school is no longer in session.
Think about outdoor play spaces. There are
benefits to playing outdoors:
• Physical activity like running, jumping, climbing develops muscles
and aids in stability and bone density.
• Time spent outside provides children with an opportunity to give
their brains a break from the demands of everyday life.
• Physical activity lowers anxiety and reduces stress.
• Vitamin D, acquired from the sun, helps bodies regulate calcium
and phosphate, keeping bones, muscles, and teeth healthy and
stabilizes mood linked to happiness.
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Just like inside, use the space you have to create a
wonderful play space for the children. It does not have to cost a
lot of money to have a safe environment for play. Sidewalks and
driveways are a great space for artwork with chalk. If you don’t
have a space for a garden, use a garden pot and allow them the time
to dig and play in the dirt. A water space where they can measure,
scoop, pour, carry, transfer and lift water will keep young ones
entertained for hours. Use a child’s hard plastic swimming pool for
a ball pit. Plastic tubs of different sizes filled with beans or
hard pasta like macaroni, or rice create a sensory area for little
hands. Movement with a pogo stick, jump rope, hula hoops, wagons,
slides, swings, scooters, frisbees, or balls can provide a range of
motion for any age. Don’t forget about tire swings, climbing trees,
or chasing bubbles. A variety of nature art can be found in a back
yard: leaf or bug collections, crayon, or chalk rubbings of leaves,
or stick sculptures, all of which just take a little imagination and
creativity.
Helping children to enjoy physical activity is a great start to
encouraging physical fitness as they grow. While an adult may not
find an obstacle course all that much fun, kids love the challenge
of them, and it keeps them moving in the fresh air and sunshine.
In this video, see how to put together an obstacle course in just a
few easy steps with inexpensive materials. The added benefit to this
course is that it can be taken down and stowed away as quickly and
easily as it was put together.
DIY Dollar
Store Backyard Obstacle Course - HGTV Handmade
There are other fun ways you can create a great space for kids.
Start by making a plan of what you want to provide for your child
and the budget you have to accomplish it. Pick a flat part of the
yard and lay down an area of turf. Surround the area with railroad
ties or a similar product to contain the play area. Place different
play toys in the area for hours of fun: a pool with sand and rocks
with dump trucks, a table with a hammock underneath for reading a
special book, or a tire obstacle course for crawling and climbing. A
sandbox made from wood pallets with benches for the kids or adults
to sit on can be fun for the entire family.
Practically anything you or your child can dream up
can be found on the internet. Search websites to find swing sets,
tree houses, and plastic play toys that would delight any child. Or
try a DIY weekend project and as an added bonus, let the kids help
with the construction, like the family in this video.
We Built a
Custom Tree House Play Set
Play is more important than you may think. It is a way for children
to learn about themselves, their limitations, their creativity, and
their own imagination. Allowing your child to choose how to play in
nature gives them the power to control their own actions while
learning to get along with others and explore in a safe environment.
Outdoor play areas are limited only by your imagination. Let your
vision be your guide and enjoy your time outside with your children.
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