We Speak Playground

One of the many things that students and parents missed last spring was the cancellation of memory-making events such as Field Day due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We think every DAY should be “Mother’s Day” but for over 100 years we have been officially celebrating moms on the second Sunday in May.

If you are in charge of building a new playground or ordering playground equipment for a daycare or school, one of the decisions you may be facing is deciding whether to order a shade structure to go over the playground. A shade structure helps to block out the sun's ultraviolet rays, shielding kids and playground equipment from the sunlight.

Learning about the benefits that shade structures have to offer can help you decide if it is worth investing in one for your playground equipment. Here are a few of the benefits. 

Childhood is a time for learning and developing skills that will benefit kids as they grow up. For many kids, the playground serves as their very first classroom, giving them a chance to learn social skills and gain excellent problem-solving abilities. Beyond that, each type of specialized play equipment helps kids develop fine and gross motor skills of all kinds. Here’s how that works.

Children and playgrounds have gone hand-in-hand since the first playground appearance in the United States in 1886. Unfortunately, today, kids are opting for more screen time than in-person play, some spending as much as seven hours a day on tablets or smartphones once they reach the teen years. Some children even as young as six months are using screen time in place of physical play.

Unfortunately, this propensity to replace physical outdoor play with inside screen time means kids are not getting their recommended 60 minutes a day engaging in physical activity—based on the United States Department of Health and Human Services daily recommendations. Thankfully, there is a way to make playgrounds more appealing, even to the modern generation and break them away from electronic play, getting them outdoors.

Everybody loves the great outdoors, especially camping and campgrounds. While hotels and airplanes were skipped by many last year after the COVID-19 pandemic started, many were able to social distance and vacation by camping.

Ashley Rossi, managing editor of Togo RV, told the USA Today this month, “Traveling with your travel bubble to a campground is one of the easiest ways to follow social distancing and maximize your time outside – you can avoid indoor dining, bring everything you need with you, socialize comfortably outdoors and get direct access to hiking trails and other outdoor activities.”

Miracle Museum is the aptly named new-to-the-playground-industry children’s museum experience that can turn any space into a sensory rich play area. Children touch, listen, see, and play their way through the fantastical collection of products.

“When we were designing Miracle Museum, we were really focused on universal design … that means design for all, for all users,” said Craig Mellott, Innovation Manager, Miracle Recreation. “It’s approachable design, it’s fun design, it’s engaging design, it’s safe, it’s secure – it’s designed for all.”

The Coronavirus has caused cities and states around the United States to take a look at many different types of businesses and places and determine what may be essential. While some cities have stated playgrounds and parks are essential, others have stated they should not be considered as such.

Fortunately, most cities and counties are changing their stance, with many recognizing the benefits of playgrounds, and in turn, deeming them essential. Here are three key reasons why playgrounds are essential. 

The playground you set up for children at your daycare center should be designed to meet a wide range of needs for growing kids. Of course, you want to create a fun place that will encourage children under your care to play and get exercise (and enjoy plenty of fresh air and sunshine), but it also needs to encourage learning and socialization. That’s what’s best for promoting early childhood development.

The current Coronavirus pandemic has people worrying about their health. Unfortunately though, the pandemic is taking its toll on people in a number of ways, including those who may not have even caught the virus. One of the unseen risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is children's mental health. The mental health of children may be declining.

As a parent, this can be concerning, and you may be wondering why this is happening, what types of mental health issues children may be facing, and what you ca do to help your child's mental health. Here are some of the questions you may have, along with the answers.