It might sound really amusing to consider building a social network of kids but that's a great solution to the problem at hand. What do I mean by a social network? Well its simple, in any neighborhood you will certainly find at least a bunch of kids who are around the same age group as your kid. Basically you will need to get them all together for one, it possible to work it up with the parents of the other kids ( I am sure they are also facing the same problem as you) and get them to bring their kids over to the playground every evening. Once the kids get together they usually start playing some game or the other, have you noticed? It might be as simple as hide and seek but at least now they are playing outside. You could even get to organize some small baseball games or athletics of some form during weekends. The kids would look forward to it and would work at practicing to win at the events
Young children love physically active play and it is good for them in a number of different ways; it benefits their growing bodies and gives them a healthy outlet for their abundant energy while subconsciously developing a confidence in their bodies and in their growing physical strength and capabilities. Active play ensures both fine and large motor movements and skills are being developed.
An outdoor area with varying levels and surfaces enables children to enhance their spatial awareness. The outdoors has open-endedness in terms of what it represents to children - from the fantastical to the domestic. This is also true of objects to be found outdoors, all encouraging creative thinking - a simple stick becomes a tool for the imagination.
Providing quality outdoor play experiences for children involves more than simply constructing a safe climbing structure and allowing them to experience fresh air and exercise. Language, social and creative skills in particular benefit from play areas with landscapes and equipment that enable them to try new experiences and extend their horizons and which provide opportunities for social discussion, problem solving and increased communication..
Having an outdoor playground, running and ball games, a friendship stop to encourage nurturing and communication, an adventure playground for climbing, swinging and balancing, a quieter space suitable for playground games, fantasy or imaginative play and even an area for outdoor musical instruments. In fact, making music available in the playground ticks all the right boxes - musical play offers cognitive, emotional and physical play opportunities
Its true that we may not be able to allow our children the same sort of 'free-range' lifestyle we had as children. This makes it so much more important to offer outdoor play environments and equipment that will develop their bodies and minds. Children have a right to high quality, safe outdoor play and recreation facilities; however just being outdoors releases children's natural exuberance!
So let's open the door and let the playground provide the social interaction, equality, turn taking, negotiation, excitement, risk, challenge and opportunities to use their imagination that children enjoy and need to learn and develop to grow into well-rounded individuals, hopefully with a love of the outdoors!
For more information on Outdoor Playground Equipments you can visit http://koochieplay.com/
