5 Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Play

This post was sponsored by Landscape Structures as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.

As a mom of two young kids, there is a lot of play scheduled into each day around here. Did you know that it is through play that children learn and develop life-long skills? In fact, play is responsible for promoting leadership, persistence, courage, confidence and so much more in young children. Global playground manufacturer, Landscape Structures is encouraging parents to play with their kids every day. I will be sharing five vital things that every parent needs to know about the importance of play.

Landscape Structures has designed and built countless playgrounds across the globe and we have had the luxury of visiting one of these state-of-the-art playgrounds in our area. Playgrounds have an important role in childhood development and so we try to visit the playground several times per week.

5 Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Play

1. Children learn through play.
When children play, they are having fun and developing life-long skills. For example, when a child runs across the playground, they are developing their gross motor skills and strengthening their leg muscles. When a child hangs on the monkey bars, they are strengthening their arm muscles and refining their coordination. My daughter recently started playing on monkey bars and it’s one of her favorite activities on the playground. She sometimes needs help from me or her father, but it’s still a fun, learning experience for her.

2. Play is healthy.
When children are playing, they are engaging all their senses. They’re using their sense of touch to grip the handlebars, their sense of sight to look for their friends, their sense of hearing to listen to the birds, and so on. Playing is so beneficial for children, because it not only teaches them the importance of a fit, active lifestyle, but it also encourages them to get away from the screen.

3. Play inspires the imagination.
When adults look at a playground, they may see a structure composed of various metal and plastic parts. However, kids often see playgrounds as the realization of fantasy worlds. When looking at a slide, kids may see an elephant trunk that they can glide down safely to the floor. When looking at a bridge, kids may see a treacherous moat, over which they have to stealthily pass to escape the alligators below. When looking at monkey bars, kids may see vines, from which they must hang in the jungle to get away from the mysterious jungle creatures below. A playground is like a wonderland of fun and creativity for kids. Inspiring their imagination helps to transform kids into thinkers and dreamers.

4. Allocate time every day for play.
Once we stop looking at play as a recreational activity that’s devoid of benefits for kids and start looking at play as a learning activity that promotes cognitive, physical, social and emotional development, we will devote more time every day to play. The kids will not only have fun, but they will benefit in other aspects of their life, as well.

5. Play outdoors.
There’s something magically special about the great outdoors. I know I find taking a walk around the neighborhood therapeutically relaxing and enjoyable. So it makes sense that kids will also turn to being outside as a pleasant, fun experience. We try to bring the kids outdoors pretty much every day. If it’s cold outside, we just bundle up. We love heading to the playground. This Landscape Structures playground is close to our home and is our favorite playground – it has the best attractions and is always well-maintained.

I hope these tips have helped you to see play time as a necessary developmental milestone for kids. In fact, Landscape Structures has collaborated with the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Childhood Development to learn more about the importance of play. They are looking into the ways, in which play promotes leadership, social relationships and problem-solving. The site of this development is often the playground. Find a Landscape Structures playground near you and see how their playgrounds benefit kids of all ages.

To keep updated on the latest news from Lanscape Structures, be sure to check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

Want to learn more about this initiative to promote the importance of play? Check out this adorable video below that highlights how playgrounds promote growth, learning, collaboration, leadership, and so much more.

“For A Better Tomorrow, We Play Today”

Learn more about how play is crucial in the development of young children and tell me: How often do you visit the local playground? Are there any Landscape Structures playgrounds near you?

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