Park Place Recreation Blog

More and more schools seem to be placing priority on test scores and pushing other important things, like recess, to the side. Many think of recess as unnecessary – a break from learning or “free time” for the kids, but there is much more to recess than that. Recess is an important time for kids to learn skills that are a large part of their development into adulthood.

It’s important for kids to get outside and play, but it’s equally important to make sure they are protected from the sun. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

We hear a lot about diversity and equal opportunity in the news, but most often it’s not in relation to children with disabilities; however, that seems to be changing. More and more people are bringing attention to the fact that children with disabilities deserve equality, too, by way of inclusive playgrounds.

Children who are active and get exercise are more likely to stay active as they grow older, leading to a healthier lifestyle. We’re not talking about going to the gym for cardio; exercise for kids should be easy and fun!

Playing on the playground is a great way for children to have fun and get various kinds of exercise at once; running, climbing, monkey bars, swinging, balancing and more. All of these activities on the playground improve their coordination, muscle strength and stamina. Playing on the playground will also help improve a child’s sleep and boost their mood – two things every parent wants!

With summer gone and the cooler weather moving in, now is the ideal time to update, replace or build your playground. Playgrounds play a large role in children's development, so it's important to have nice, up-to-date and well-kept playgrounds. 

Unstructured play on the playground is an integral part of every child’s development — social, emotional, physical and cognitive. Playing (and listening to) musical instruments can also be beneficial to these same aspects of a child's development. Music enriches the lives of children and enhances their learning and growth; so adding musical instruments on the playground enhances the overall play experience.

Playing on the playground seems like such a simple thing for kids, but it’s so much more than that. Participation in playground play helps children develop physically, mentally and socially; from mastering motor skills and emotional control, to learning how to solve problems and make decisions, playground play helps shape our children into healthy, functioning adults.