Children have curiosity and can’t sit in one place for long, they need something that excites them. In school one of the exciting things for them is the playground where they can release their creativity and stress. Playgrounds are a zone for children where they play and socialise with others.
In this guide, we are going to discuss the importance of playgrounds in schools and why they can be beneficial to boost children's mental health and academic performance. If you want to know more about primary school sport equipment then read more.
Why Playing is Important for Children?
Parents don’t know much about it but playing can improve their children’s learning and strategic thinking.
Playing is stereotyped as children think but for a good reason, not only does it release stress but also makes them active at the same time. It creates a positive impact on children’s mental and physical health.
As per the Nidirect, children who play have significant improvement in their cognitive, social, physical and emotional well-being. Numerous studies out there claim the positive impact of playing so as a school owner you can add sports equipment in school to make an ideal playground for children.
Many people don’t know about but playing can significantly improve critical thinking and situation awareness. It teaches practical skills which you can’t teach in classrooms. Skills like self-control, problem-solving and socialisation with other kids.
Why Schools Must Have A Playground?
There are hardly any schools nearby in your city that don’t have playgrounds in it. There is reason for that, because playgrounds are made for good reasons for children to play. Studies found that children who play daily have a higher chance of getting good academic grades. Who’s parents don’t want their child to gain higher grades, gain a degree, and earn higher earnings? No One.
Each playground should have unstructured sports equipment so that children can voluntarily take part in and participate with other children. Giving children a playground area with different play opportunities can ensure a sense of engagement.
Types of Playground in Schools
Themed Playground
The themed playground is made for kids to stimulate their creativity. It has unique elements and designs created with different equipment and activities to keep a specific theme in mind.
These types of playgrounds are made to raise the curiosity level of kids and spark their imagination more in the real world. They can engage with other kids and make their beautiful creations.
Themed playgrounds are not typical traditional playgrounds like swings sets, and slides. They have unique design concepts such as jungle animal-themed or futuristic-themed are a few of the examples of playgrounds. These themed playgrounds help to immerse children in the story when using playground equipment.
Traditional Playground
You properly played with rickety old steel sports equipment in your neighbourhood playground. Traditional playgrounds are simple and shuttle with no fancy or themed equipment in mind. These types of playgrounds are designed to satisfy all age groups of children.
Equipment like metal slides, swings, and plastic structures are some of them used in traditional playgrounds. These types of equipment are more rigid and not as safe as new types of equipment used in modern playgrounds.
Nature Playground
Nature playground creates a sense of curiosity and adventure rush in children's minds. However, the traditional playgrounds with simple and standardized equipment give a blended atmosphere for children. Natural playgrounds are more of a different landscape than engage children in imaginative play.
Research claims that children are attracted more towards smells, textures and nature sounds, which stimulates their senses to engage them in unstructured play activities.
Freestanding Playground
Primary school sport equipment used in freestanding playgrounds is standalone equipment that is not a part of the main playground structure. Types of equipment like swing sets, climbers, slides and spinners.
Installing this equipment is cheap compared to other equipment installed in modern playgrounds. Those schools which have a low budget can go for this option, they are also good for children to enjoy these pieces of equipment.
If you have a traditional playground in your school you can still add this equipment to make a freestanding playground. These independent play equipment can be customized as per your school space, and preference.
There are different budget options for these types of freestanding playgrounds so you don’t have to worry about anything. There is something for everyone.
Indoor Playground
If your school is in a more densely populated area where space is limited, as a school owner you can opt for an indoor playground. Indoor playgrounds are enclosed play areas under a roof that are designed for children to play with each other.
One of the major benefits of having an indoor playground is that you don’t need to worry about the weather outside. You can install slides, climbing structures, monkey bars and crawl tunnels.
Indoor playgrounds are more convenient for children as they don’t need to leave the building to play. Plus these playgrounds are indoors so they are safe and as a teacher and a parent, you can monitor the child. As indoor playgrounds are man-made you can add vibrant colour to your playground like drawing a rainbow on the wall.