Many parents have had the experience of arranging a play date for a group of children only to find that no one wants to play together. Or a parent takes a child to the playground to play, but the child sits on a bench refusing to move. The fact is that children play when it is enjoyable for them to do so. If it isn’t fun, or if they perceive that it will not be fun, they simply will not do it. That is why any playground for kids must be designed to attract children to actually play.
It goes without saying that any playground should be made safe for kids to play on. Playgrounds for kids should be designed by designers who are NPSI certified. The equipment should meet or exceed all safety guidelines. If you are taking your child to a playground for the very first time, walk through the playground with your child. Try to notice things from a kid’s point of view. Are there any sharp or protruding objects, loose pieces, or places that might tempt a young child to get a hand stuck?
A playground should also foster imaginative play. For kids, going to the playground involves so much more than swinging on swings or climbing up the slide. There could be a damsel in distress that needs saving or a pirate ship that is about to fire its cannon, or a castle that is about to be stormed by marauders. Consequently, playgrounds that have structures in place that can serve as a variety of imaginary places or scenarios are usually more appealing for kids than ones that have only single use objects.
You may find that there are times when you take your child to the playground and it is as though they have never met a stranger. A playground that fosters group play will help kids to learn to socialize and to work things out with one another. On the other hand, there may be times when your child withdraws into individual play. This is important, too, because it can help a child to learn how to be self-entertained rather than always having to rely on you to keep from becoming bored.
If you are going to take your child to the playground to play, you want to make sure that they will actually want to play there. Look at the playground and ask yourself if it really looks appealing for kids and whether you would have wanted to play there. If the answer is no, find another playground.
