The Importance of Play and Innovative Play Equipment
The way that children play has changed dramatically over the last century. At the beginning of the 1900s, children engaged in make-believe, roaming together in basically unsupervised packs, developing games, scenarios, and activities that were limited only by their imaginations. Often the only play equipment available might have been a stick, a stone, or a piece of cloth, but inevitably, some purpose was always found for it and a whole day could be spent doing what appeared from the outside to be innocent, but which was crucial to the development of what experts call executive function. Critical to executive function is the ability to self-regulate, or to control emotions and behavior and exhibit self-control.
However, with the advent of specific toys and equipment for play, the script for children has become more and more predetermined and children are actually losing their ability to engage in imaginative play. Studies have also shown that children’s ability to self-regulate has diminished. The ability to exercise executive function is an essential skill, and educators find that it is more indicative of success in school than IQ. Children who can self-regulate are better able to learn.
Make believe play requires children to engage in what child experts refer to as private speech. That is, in imaginative play, children have to reason with themselves about what they are going to do and how to do it. Make-believe play helps to develop executive function, and in order for make-believe play to occur, play equipment must allow for imagination. Toys, games, or equipment that can only be used in one way for one purpose is fairly useless when it comes to imaginative play. Objects that can be fashioned into other objects by creative minds or playsets that can be, in a child’s mind, a fort, a pirate ship, a castle, a bank, or an airplane will enable that child to learn what is necessary to self-regulation.
The importance of play cannot be overstated. It is in play that children practice and learn how to be adults. That is, although play may seem childish and a waste of time, it is precisely in play that the child develops those skills that will lead to maturity and the ability to navigate safely into adulthood. Because play is so important, play equipment becomes crucial. Equipment that fosters complex imaginative play is to be preferred over that equipment which pre-programs a child to respond in a certain way. As adults, we have a responsibility to ensure that the young people entrusted to our care have ample opportunities for play that is active, engaging, and imaginative.
Kidstruction provides clever and stimulating concepts in outdoor play equipment. They would love to help you with your new outdoor playground purchase. We will walk you through the entire process from the selection and design of your play equipment to its installation so that you can sit back and watch your vision come to fruition. Contact Kidstruction at http://www.kidstruction.com/ or call +1-800-245-8449.
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