Designing A Home Play Area For Your Kids
There is no denying that play is vital for the developmental needs of a child. It is during this time that a child gets to learn more about the world and get their creative juices flowing. These experiences promote inquisitive minds, critical thinking skills and innovation, which is very much essential later on.
There are multiple considerations when creating an early childhood. In this article, we will discuss on how we can create the perfect home play area for your kids.
Benefits of a Home Play Area
Free play promotes creativity and independence in children. During play, children can experiment with different ways of solving an issue and try out new experiences. Children can use their imaginations to use toys or playground equipment in any way they want to. This teaches children versatility, which would come in useful in the future. Free play also has the benefit of helping kids focus in school.
Time spent on physical activities can help improve the overall health of your child. As children begin to develop physically, it is essential that they learn more about their physical abilities. Through free play, kids are able to learn to be more aware of their surroundings and develop better coordination.
Through their interaction with others, kids can get the opportunity to develop their cognitive and social skills. During games, children would have to work together to achieve certain outcomes/goals. This helps them develop essential communication skills.
Creating the Perfect Home Play Area
Here are some factors to think about in order to create the perfect home play area for your children!
- Consider capacity: Include sufficient play equipment such that the play equipment is not overcrowded, especially when your kids bring friends over.
- Layout of your playground: Ensure that there is sufficient space between the play equipment. This is to ensure that a child playing on one piece doesn’t interfere with another child playing on another. This is especially important for swings and seesaws which require a larger area.
- Age-appropriate equipment: Ensure that the equipment is suitable for the intended age group. Interest-wise, pick out sensory toys for younger kids and equipment for active play for older kids. It is also important to ensure that the size of equipment is appropriate for their use. One example of this is to ensure that the steps and ledges are small enough for your child to climb.
Safety Considerations
There are safety considerations to keep your home play area safe and comfortable for play.
- the right location: Avoid placing your play area near hazards. Examples of this include near balconies or fragile items
- the right terrain: Play area should be built on fairly flat ground
- Appropriate surfaces: Avoid placing play equipment on hard surfaces such as concrete and blacktop. Consider placing fitness mats underneath the play equipment for extra protection.
- Eliminate any hazards: Watch out for any hazards that might cause harm and rectify them. Some examples of this include debris around the playground that might pose a tripping hazard.