Boost Your Child s Brainpower by Simply Letting Them Spend More Time on a Playground
We all know kids love playgrounds. Now, research
shows that playing on the playground can boost brainpower too! Playing
has been linked to emotional, social, motor and cognitive development.
Playgrounds facilitate the benefits of pure, spontaneous and active
free play. Some ways they do it are listed below.
Play and Free Play
While
we take the playing done by children for granted, we seldom ponder the
mechanics of it. There are many ways that children play and they have
unique benefits to the child’s development. Physical play such as
running, jumping, dancing promotes physical fitness. Fantasy play such
as dressing up or pretend play expands the mind and imagination. Young
children play in a very simple manner, their games and scenarios
becoming more complex as they grow and develop.
Although
structured, organized activity has its place in a child’s day; it is
really through free, spontaneous play that a child is able to develop
critical thinking, problem-solving and imagination. Since most children
are naturally active, they often combine their natural tendency
physical activity with playing. Playgrounds provide an optimal
environment for a child to be active, explore his environment, interact
with his peers and play in his own unique style.
Brain Development
Most
of us are aware of recent findings that the most crucial period for
brain development is under the age of five. We have all probably also
heard that “play is important for children”. There is actual science
behind that statement! The act of playing stimulates brain development
and function. Vigorous gross motor activity is also critical for proper
brain development, by creating and establishing vital neural pathways.
Playgrounds
help to develop a child’s cognitive development, because they provide
sensory-motor stimuli, which directly corresponds with the small
child’s preferred method of learning. Through running, climbing and
pretending, the child is building his brain while having fun!
Motor-skills
There are reports which suggest
that children which fail to properly develop motor skills by the age 5
will likely have a hard time developing the essential skills later on.
The best place to gain those skills at an early age seems to be the
playground. Toddlers have a chance to explore new surroundings and
learn new skills, while older children enjoy the challenge of testing
their strength and trying more difficult pieces of equipment.
Playgrounds provide the space children need to freely run and expend
their energy and advance to the next stage of development. Children who
lack physical activity might face health consequences as adults, and
playgrounds are a fun, cost-effective way of ensuring that children
receive the recommended amount of daily physical activity.
There
are various physical development opportunities which playgrounds
present. Tactile panels promote manipulation and coordination; bridges
and ramps promote loco motor skills; and slides and swings promote
balance and coordination. Monkey bars and climbing ladders teach
children fine motor control such as reaching, grasping and releasing.
There are also ample opportunities for jumping, running, balancing and
stretching.
Language Development, Intelligence, and Social Skills
Through
play children learn to develop their imagination, intelligence and
language. The playground allows children to safely congregate with
their peers and interact together. The children’s eagerness to create
and join in games expands their social and communication skills.
Through
the act of creating games and inviting each other to play, children
learn societal rules and functioning in a group setting. Negotiation,
cooperation and compromise are essential talents children must possess
in order to feel comfortable and as if they belong in their group of
friends.
The children’s way of spontaneously creating “games”
illustrates how playing on a playground stimulates social and emotional
development. Children, whether they know each other or not, will
gravitate towards one another and start a game of “tag” or “hide and
seek”. Or perhaps an elaborate fantasy game will be created, with the
playground structure being transformed into a castle and the children
being assigned roles of knights, kings and wizards. In order for the
game to function smoothly, vital communication must take place, through
discussion, agreements and the ability to resolve conflicts. A child
who can not handle his frustrations, or abide by the invented “rules”
will find himself out of the game.
Summary
There
is more to a child’s play than meets the eye. Playing is crucial to the
successful development of the brain, body and intellect. It helps to
create neural pathways that will last the rest of the child’s life.
Playing promotes motor development by exploring and expanding the
limits of the child’s growing body. Finally, through playing with his
peers the child learns social, emotional and oral skills.
Playground
equipment and space provide a suitable environment for a young child to
engage in appropriate developmental play. The fact that it is a fun
activity that most children enjoy will have lasting positive effects on
their overall development.
Do your kids use your living room as a gym? DreamGYM , coordination & strength.
DreamGYM jungle gym is an indoor playground and a fun exercise tool for children. Its accessories can be used outdoors with your regular backyard playground or swing set.
About the author
boys, she faced the problem of keeping her children physically active
all year round. After creating the first jungle gym in her house,
Marina envisioned the idea to make this product available to all
children. Now she sells her indoor jungle gyms and swing set
accessories through her online store KidsDreamGym.com
Tags: brain development, children play, cognitive development, critical thinking, free play, gross motor, imagination, mechanics, natural tendency, neural pathways, optimal environment, peers, physical activity, physical fitness, playground, playgrounds, preferred method, scenarios, sensory motor, stimuli
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