Indoor Playgrounds for Children

Although swings, slides and sandboxes rank among the most common children's playthings, author Michael L. Hennger in 1993 deemed such equipment "not sufficient" to stimulate the broad spectrum of quality play essential to children's developmental growth. These findings, writes Weaver W. Pangburn in the January 2007 edition of the "National Municipal Review," led to more indoor playgrounds and recreation centers, as experts continue to identify "important play types in the indoor setting" that facilitate the development of toddlers and preschoolers.

  1. Benefits

    • The benefits of establishing an indoor play area for children extend beyond a simple cure for boredom. According to early childhood education scholars Joan Packer Isenberg and Nancy Quisenberry, "decades of research has documented that play has a crucial role in the optimal growth, learning and development of children from infancy through adolescence." From fostering creative thinking to promoting physical-motor and problem-solving skills, indoor playgrounds provide an interactive learning environment for children, while encouraging and contributing to developmental, cognitive and physical growth. Unlike traditional outdoor playgrounds, indoor playgrounds have the added advantage of being available to children regardless of weather conditions or time of day, and offer safety benefits, such as insulated mats, easy supervision and the absence of outdoor hazards such as uneven ground, biting insects and poisonous plant life.

    At Home

    • Do-it-yourself construction offers parents the opportunity to customize a stimulating, creative play space in accordance with their child's developmental rate and learning needs. Safe and effective indoor playgrounds often incorporate several age-appropriate, exploratory play stations, including exercise equipment such as trampolines, modular fabric tubes and floor mats for physical-motor development; dress-up clothes, puppet stages and kitchen sets for dramatic play; over-sized floor puzzles, sand and water tables, and alphabet blocks for cognitive development; and theme-based playhouses or obstacle courses. As an alternative, retailers nationwide sell ready-made or inflatable indoor playgrounds.

    Public Playgrounds

    • For parents or caregivers who do not have the time, money or space required to construct an indoor play space, public indoor playgrounds offer similar benefits. Many children's museums feature interactive play areas such as science centers and mock archaeological digs. Children's gyms typically have jungle-gym equipment that provides a safe way for children to freely move and explore. Even local carnivals, midways or malls often incorporate ball pits and inflatable bouncy castles as attractions. These attractions provide the same developmental benefits of home-based indoor playgrounds, with the added advantage of fostering socialization, cooperative play and communication skills.

    Safety Tips

    • Whether taking your child to an indoor playground or constructing one within your home, adult supervision is a must. Indoor playgrounds should contain no small, detachable parts, which present a choking hazard, and kids shouldn't play in an area with fragile or unstable equipment. Caregivers should look for well-constructed, securely fastened and lightweight playground toys appropriate for the child's age, and sanitize the equipment after use. If visiting a public indoor facility, children should wash their hands before and after playtime to reduce the risk of spreading germs. Appropriate clothing -- such as sweat suits and sneakers -- helps prevent playground-related injuries.

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