Tag Archives: foam padding for playground

Author: Austin Stanfel

Research shows that the creativity of most children reaches its peak before the age of 6. As a parent or guardian, you have every responsibility to help develop the imagination and the creativity of your pre-schooler, to enhance his/her continued development.

Unconventional playgrounds are slowly gaining popularity for their ability to develop creativity in children. This article talks about three of such unconventional playgrounds that are being endorsed by parents and guardians.

The Yard
This is a very unusual playground concept which features a large outdoor site and encourages free play among children. The Yard provides children with unusual child-friendly play items like wood, saws, hammers and nails, tires, traffic cones, crates, and of course, dirt. Children are free to allow their imagination to run wild and create or destroy anything using these unusual toys.

The idea of the Yard includes one key concept: children are made to play unsupervised. The concept offers children a safe space away from the watchful and controlling eyes of their parents. There are trained ‘adult play workers’ though their role is to encourage children to take ownership of the space and take risks while they passively supervise.

Adventure playgrounds
These playgrounds have a little bit of resemblance to the Yard as it also encourages the use of unconventional play items like dirt, rocks, and sticks, and discourages parental supervision. It’s a decent distraction from the technology devices children are addicted to in these modern times.

The concept of Adventure playgrounds has been well embraced in Europe, which counts up to about 1,000 of them. Berlin’s Kolle 37 is one of the most admired adventure playgrounds in the world, so is Tokyo’s Hanegi Playpark and London’s Toffee park. Other playgrounds that are rapidly gaining popularity are York’s Creepy Crawlies and Derbyshire’s Chatsworth.

The main advantages associated with such playgrounds are the freedom given to children to fuel their imagination, connect to nature, and interact with their peers while developing their social skills, problem-solving skills, and building resilience.

Interestingly, a lot of schools are still on the fence when it comes to deciding whether or not to adopt Adventure playgrounds. They fear that such playgrounds pose several risks. On the contrary, adventure playgrounds report lower accident rates than more conventional play spaces.

Free play
The architects David Rockwell and Frank Gehry designed this abstract playground to give children the freedom to explore different and creative ways to play with structures. The playground features a section called the ‘Ant Farm’, and another called the ‘Maze’. The first consists of suspended tubes, and children decide what to do with them – crawl under, over, or through the tubes. The Maze also has a lot of holes to encourage creative play. Apart from the challenge of engaging in active physical play using rings, ropes, slides, panels, and twisters, Free play also fosters independent thinking among children.

Self-directed play is not only essential for the cognitive development of children, but it also sets the stage for greater independence and higher self-esteem.

Author: Austin Stanfel

The kids want to play outside. Should you consider sending them to the local playground?

There is definitely a link between children playing and the playground. But what is it exactly? Play, in general, is an activity not limited to one specific thing. While tennis takes place in tennis courts, golf takes place on a golf course. Play in general doesn’t necessarily fall to being only at a playground if we go with that logic.

When looking at the definition of play, it can be defined as such:

“To spend time doing an enjoyable and/or amusing activity; play could be a spontaneous activity or it may be structured, with formal or spur-of-the-moment rules for games.”

Because it’s so open-ended, why do we associate play with playgrounds so much? The answer is quite apparent than we might think. It’s because playgrounds offer great opportunities for kids to enjoy themselves. To us adults, a playground is an area of safety due to how well managed and planned the providers of the playground were when it was built. Playgrounds have play-enhancing items that help a child develop a variety of abilities. Physical strength, social connection, intelligence, and even emotional learning are the standard in playgrounds, and it makes sense why adults send kids to playgrounds.

But that doesn’t explain why children actually play there. Outside of the obvious “because my parents told me to”, what reasons do kids have to play on the playground? Could it possibly be because children at their core find experiential pleasure there?

This line of thinking was something that Europe, and in recent years the US have tried to understand. Playground specialists have put in the effort to quantify the “play value” of playgrounds within their respective countries. As a result of this, the self-proclaimed playground experts are actually adults who create a perception of an adult’s sense of play. Because of this perception, playgrounds have become what we see them as now. Playgrounds offer multiple items because adults think more is ideal. (alprazolam) Some offer a variety because we adults think one kind of physical activity is equal to one social activity. But one other idea that has surfaced has been the examination of challenge levels or proficiency rates. In Hong Kong, individuals are performing studies to compare overall perceptions of risk-taking on the playground between specialists and children. It would be interesting if they followed the same approach but did a comparison study on play value.

Regardless, the overall sentiment of playgrounds has been safety first and for good reason. However, this sort of development has dominated several playgrounds over. While safety is paramount, that sort of “safety capsule” seems a bit off from the usual park setting. Now there are underlying base pads that cover at least a seven-foot clearance zone. It’s as if the children are playing a safety bubble filled with safety provisions. The overall look of the playground itself doesn’t seem connected with the rest of the park. It appears more foreign than anything else.

Sure, the structures may change over time, but the design work is starting to become more common: a flat surface with a variety of play components hooked together to form a single structure. This trend is moving away from the motion experiences that parks used to have. There are fewer swings and merry-go-rounds, all in the name of both safety and saving space.

All that being said, some playgrounds don’t follow that cookie-cutter format. Some playgrounds have subtle cultural hints in their designs and structural elements. They’re also creative with their choice of colours and symbols. Also, some playgrounds look fitting in the community.

This isn’t to say that safety isn’t necessary. However what may be useful here is recalling what Erik Richter, a German playground designer, once said:

“Provide as much play value as possible; provide only as much safety as necessary.”
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Author: Austin Stanfel

Simple outside play is an integral part of a child’s physical, emotional, social, and mental growth. Playground designers have been creating areas that are engaging and exciting for the child of all ages. These areas are fun and give learning opportunities to kids and parents, especially when it comes to safety. Proactive measures have also been taken and supported by the industry to keep playgrounds safe with the right equipment and surface. Children have a curiosity to learn, especially on the playground, so it is crucial to have the right stuff around for them to play with. Playground safety has grown in importance, thoroughly understanding the risks and the materials on the playground for children to grow with.

Building a safe playground begins with approved industry construction materials. The manufacturers that make them should be approved, and the materials should be insured in the event of an accident in which it manifests faults during construction or when in use. These businesses understand the need for playground safety, making their support essential. In fact, they are meant to provide the playground operators with specific instructions on installing the structure design piece-by-piece, as well as give proper analysis, upkeep, and repair. This includes surfacing protection to wood fiber, rubber, synthetic turf, and other safety surfacings.

Make a checklist when it comes to doing a rundown of the playground area. Check for any cracks, exposure of pipes, rust, weakened bolts, and other dangerous and faulty areas.

Plan out the schedule for inspecting the entire playground, weekly, monthly, and yearly. Keep everything up to date and organized efficiently; don’t let one inch of negligence take place, because it can become a bigger issue. Then, let the inspection take its course. There is also the necessary need to revisit and update the rules about the playground and regarding promoting ethical behavior on the playground, including the supervision of children at all times.

Notifying parents about playground risk and safety is helpful, and having someone with knowledge of first aid and accident protocol helps even more. Put up signs to inform kids on what is safe at the playground and have the parents read it to them. Always remind them of their play goals, spot possible dangers, and don’t have too many children on the same piece at the same time. The more the kids, the more fun it is, but also, the more dangerous it becomes. Bottlenecking to go down the slide or fire pole will cause problems and injuries.

The playground is a getaway for children and relieves adults the stress of childcare for a bit. The children get their one hour of exercise in the playground, and the parents just have to watch them from where they are. The playground is an outdoor classroom that has a lot to offer to kids. It starts by building a proper playground with the right safety features for everyone to utilize. Safety comes first, and everyone has to play their part in making sure it is used responsibly and with high regard.

Author: Austin Stanfel

Whenever you turn your TV on to the sports center, you will likely see two opposing teams playing for one to win over the other. It’ll either be baseball, football, or golf. Whatever it is, the two teams that are participating, are not doing it for the fun of learning. They are there to get a price and to feel the satisfaction of winning.

This phenomena is not only present on TV. Our education system, especially the one designed to teach sports, is highly competitive. It doesn’t teach children that playing a sport is not about winning and defeating someone else. It teaches them that when you beat someone at a sport, you are the best that there could ever be in that particular instance.

In addition, the sports we play and love are extremely fast paced. You need to run fast, catch the ball, run again, smash into someone and then score. It requires immense physical strength and other traits which not all people have.

Take for example children with disabilities. They grow up thinking that their disability prevents them from playing such a sport. The world around them is sending them a message that they are not good enough because they are not as fast or as strong, and they cannot defeat the others as a person without disabilities would. So they grow up thinking that sports is for the able bodied.

Recent developments have encouraged what is called the universal design. This means that any activity is designed in a such a way that it could fit any person, able bodies or with any disabilities. Universal design has been praised and many institutions are trying to fit it into their curricula. What universal design provides besides inclusive learning is also inclusive playing.

They call this alongside play. Alongside play is not designed for people to play against each other. It is not designed with opponents in mind or with the goal of winning. Alongside play offers games which people can play on their own, in the same place as others. The games are centered on the idea that all children, without any exclusion, can play, have fun, and learn from each other.

The main idea is to get children to understand that playing has a purpose and that purpose is self improvement. This self improvement is done by eliminating the idea that one child is better at a game than the other, that they must win in order to feel fulfilled.

Quite the opposite. Alongside play creates inclusive communities where everyone is having fun and not child is feeling left out. Feeling left out only creates distancing and divides children from each other. So schools and playgrounds need to adapt the method of alongside play, not only to include children with disability, but also to create accepting communities whose main reason for playing is learning and self betterment, rather than competitive play.

Author: Austin Stanfel

Safety in the playground environment is one of the most important aspects of health and safety. Not only is it important to make sure that the equipment being used is of a high standard, but the surfaces must also meet requirements. The last thing anybody needs is an accident at a playground because it is a is a very serious and high profile form of accident.

To get the best safety from playground surfaces, the impact attenuate has to be accurately measured. If the impact measurement is even a few millimeters out, then it can have catastrophic results further down the line and so these measures are important to follow at all times. As playing surfaces are designed purely to protect the user from serious injury, there are certain rules and procedures that need to be followed in order to keep the safety levels as high as possible.

Using a prescribed test device is imperative when ensuring the safety playground equipment for those using it. These devices measure the impact of an item on the surface at a particular height, and the results are then compared to the pass/fail specification, which allows the owner to lower the height of any equipment they are planning on placing. There are two levels that the impact needs to not exceed in order for it to be deemed safe. These are the g level, which should not exceed 200, and the HIC (Head Injury Criteria) level, which should not exceed 1000.

Although testing the surfaces when they are placed is very important, it is not the end of the process, as formal testing must also take place. These field tests are undertaken by an independent auditor and must comply with the ASTM F1292 Standard. This standard was first published in 1991 and is used to test all impact surfaces. This test usually requires three laboratory tests that have a controlled temperature; however, this is not easy in the field, so another test has been designed to test surfaces in the field. For this to be implemented, the designated auditor must test the same spot three times to ensure a thorough result. Not only must it be tested three times, but the area of the surface that seems to have the most wear and tear must be the spot that is tested, as it indicates the worst spot in the area.

Of course, there is room for improvement when it comes to these tests, as the owners of the play area would like to test the surface material before it is put down. While this would reduce the initial problems of having to test a recently laid surface, there would still be a need for retesting as the surface would deteriorate through everyday use. Overall, the use of these tests is vitally important and can significantly reduce the rate of serious injury to children using the play equipment.

Author: Austin Stanfel

Creative play is a newer definition for what most children have done since finding things to entertain themselves with. Creativity stimulates your brain, as does playing, which overall promotes well-being. It seems that we don’t really realize this when it’s actually occurring, and in theory, we shouldn’t be preoccupied with it, we really should just be playing. So what does the actual term creative play mean? Is there a difference between creative play and just regular play? The main difference is that creative play is driven by children and their own decision-making skills, as opposed to having adults tell them what to play or give them direction in their play time.

According to an article by Cara Batema on the How to Adult website, children decide what they choose to do and adults should only be responsible for providing a safe and encouraging environment, as well as providing open-ended toys. Examples of open-ended toys would be crayons, paper, other art supplies, dress up clothes, and props. Hand held musical instruments and clay are also other examples of open-ended toys. Adults should minimally supervise but not interfere or provide instructions or rules for playtime.

She also notes that PBS suggested that the benefits of creative playground equipment include enhanced abilities that include problem-solving, verbal, social skills, and abstract thinking. An example of this would be children playing with blocks. This involves problem solving skills such as trying to figure out how to keep the blocks from falling over, using analytic skills to figure out how to balance blocks and build their own creations.

Another creative outlet for children is music and painting. Allowing children to express themselves via other mediums allows for safe self-expression that provides endless possibilities. This has an added benefit, such as stress relief. Allowing children to learn how to self-sooth and how to manage stress without unhealthy substitutes is a life-long benefit. Children can inadvertently learn unhealthy coping skills, such as eating unhealthy foods to make themselves feel better or potentially learning other unhealthy habits that can hinder their growth physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Creative play helps to incorporate not only creativity, but also promoting a sense of purpose, igniting a passion, or giving them new opportunities for self-expression.

Creative play has definite benefits, as do other play options. The difference is deciding who will be managing the play time. Children are impressionable and have open slates that absorb important information that rears their development and potential to decide for themselves. What should the parent’s responsibility be in trying to decide what is most beneficial to their children’s development? It seems that the answer can be complex.

Prior to the play-date movement, most children were left to their own devices in terms of what to play and what to do. Growing up in the seventies, we and the generations before us went outside in the morning and did not return home until the evening rolled around, Would this then be the original creative play?