Recent research shows that less time is made available for outdoor play, eventhough children develop themselves more by playing outside. New research gives us some new interesting facts about the health benefits of playing outside.
"During outdoor play, children learn to communicate with their peers and they learn how to solve problems between them.''
In this blog post, we will give you 13 reasons why you should get a high quality climbing frame in your backyard.
1. Playing outdoors and fresh air necessary for the brain
Research shows that children who play outside perform better at school with for example writing, mathematics, critical thinking and listening. The effects of outdoor activity on the brain are necessary for brain recovery and production of new brain cells. During exertion, a particular brain cell is created that affects the memory system. These brain cells have a huge impact on children's ability to concentrate. Playing outside is very healthy and fun!
2. Playing outside is healthy for the body and mind
Being active outdoors improves the coordination, balance and physical development. A playground brings children into motion, which in turn provides muscle strength, flexibility, motor skills and general fitness. Inadequate exercise can lead to stiff movements, more frequent falls, fear of heights, insecurity and under performance in education. Not to mention that today many children are suffering from obesity.
Playing, climbing, crawling, jumping, running, falling and getting up every day is especially important for kids. Research has shown that children who spend a lot of time outdoors will have less of a risk of diseases later in life, such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and weakened bones and immune system. So make sure they get their daily portion of outdoor playing.
3. Outdoor play in the sun for vitamin D
Recent Dutch research shows that one in three children has a shortage of vitamin D, which can cause fragile bones and a weak immune system. The absorption of sufficient daylight is also important for children's eating and sleeping cycle.
Recent research in China has shown that being outside is essential for appropriate eye development. The advice is to spend at least two hours a day outdoors, so playing outside is always a good idea!
4. Playing on a climbing frame to practice social skills
Playing together is always great fun. Both the children from the classroom and from your neighbourhood will love to play on a Jungle Gym climbing frame. This way they learn to work together by, for example, inventing games which is also good for creativity. With these games they will often be in competition with each other. By winning or losing they develop self-confidence, emotional skills and learn to (break the) fall and get up again!
5. A wooden climbing frame stimulates imagination
At the playground children learn creativity and they will use their imagination. Reality disappears and in the blink of an eye a playground becomes a fairy tale castle or a pirate boat. Only the sky is the limit!
6. Kids turn into real explorers on a playground
A Jungle Gym is designed to stimulate imagination and creativity and to help discover new things in the world. By playing outside in nature kids become great explorers. Not only through their imagination. They will see and find different materials in and around the climbing frame like sand, twigs, stones, water and shells, which will inspire them to incorporate these in their play.
7. Playing on a climbing frame is an attractive alternative to screen time
New technology has certainly given us some necessary benefits. However, doctors strongly advise to not look too much at a screen, this can be harmful to children. So they advise us to use a maximum of two hours watching a screen outside of school hours. Very good advice for ultimate outdoor fun!
8. Reduce stress
Children who suffer from concentration problems experience school in a more stressful way. Children with a lot of imagination and energy can better use their energy in an outdoor environment. Playing outdoors stimulates the development of natural creativity and helps to reduce stress and to better deal with stimuli.
9. Kids sleep like babies after a long day of playing outside
Playing outside on their Jungle Gym climbing frame takes a lot of energy. Outdoor play involves climbing, sliding, swinging, jumping, laughing and running. After a long day of spending time outside the kids are obviously physically and mentally tired. As a result, they sleep a lot better!
10. You will have time for other things when your kids play in the garden
It has never been so easy to do your daily things, with the kids playing in the garden for the whole day. You will have your hands free when the kids play by themselves on the playground, while you keeping an eye on them. Jungle Gym climbing frames are designed with extreme safety in mind. So you can sit back, relax, and enjoy watching your kids play outside!
11. Everything stays nice and tidy
While playing outside, everything remains neat and tidy inside the house. Making a mess by drinking lemonade or leaving breadcrumbs behind is not a problem with this happening outside on the grass. Perfect!
12. Plenty of choice in climbing frames
Did you know that you can design your own Jungle Gym? There are many possibilities for a wooden climbing frame. You can choose a small or a large playground, with swings, a mini-market or a fireman´s pole. You can always renew the playtower with accessories or attach a new module to it like the boat or bridge. Play the game Tic-Tac-Toe together, use the steering wheel, arrange transport to the top with the Bucket or you can communicate with each other via the Talking Tube. You can also create a completely customised climbing frame with our Jungle Gym Climbing Frame configurator.
13. Just because it is so much fun
There are many reasons to choose a Jungle Gym climbing frame, playtower or swing set. The most important reason is that children love it and have so much fun playing with it. The playground equipment will last for years. Your kids will enjoy it, no matter what age they are. And you will love it too!
All our climbing frames are suitable for children from three to ten years old and are safety certified. If you are looking for a commercial climbing frame for public use, please visit our Commercial Playground Equipment-page for more information.
Do you have any questions or need some extra help? In this case, our
