Fall weather is here in Charlotte and it is the perfect time to play outside on the playground! Did you know that the playground provides your child with a variety of sensory experiences that help them explore and learn about their environment? From climbing to swinging to playing in the sandbox and taking turns with peers, a playground provides your child with experiences that cannot occur in the home.
For more details on how playing on a playground can help your child, please ask your Child and Family Development occupational therapist!
- Climbing and Hanging (heavy work) - monkey bars, ziplines, stairs, ladders, rockwalls, and slides provide children with an opportunity to climb and hang. This gives them great input to their joints and muscles (especially in their arms) and is very organizing. When children participate in these activities they are strengthening their core/postural muscles as well as the muscles in their shoulders, wrists, and hands. This provides them with a great foundation for writing activities.
- Movement - swings, slides, fire poles, and spinning equipment provide children with the movement opportunities they crave.
- Sand and water play - sandboxes and water tables give children an opportunity to experience textures and manipulate toys with their hands. Our hands are the part of our bodies that most interact with the world around us throughout our lives. These activities encourage children to explore with their hands and learn how to interact with their environment.
- Cozy Spots - Child-sized spaces on the playground support independent discovery and give children a place of their own to explore novel concepts. These places also serve as a quiet area where a child can regroup from over-stimulation and provide a safe retreat before resuming play.
- Gathering Spots - Children need places to gather together. These areas in the playground are where they plan their play and learn about social interactions.
- Circuits - Children engaged in looping behavior appear to complete the same activity over and over. As they do, they are gathering sensory information, gaining valuable experience and beginning to experience the concept of cause & effect. Planning and practicing ways to move helps them develop a system for mastering new skills.
For more details on how playing on a playground can help your child, please ask your Child and Family Development occupational therapist!
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