Unexpected benefits of playgrounds

By Stacie Gaetz

We all know that playgrounds are a great way to pass an hour or more with the kids on a warm day.

Fresh air, getting their body moving and avoiding the call of “I’m bored” all come to mind as obvious upsides to taking your kids to the park but there may be even more benefits to your child playing in a community playground than you realize.

Increased self esteem

Playgrounds provide countless challenges for children. Ladders, monkey bars, poles to slide down, each apparatus requires new skills that a child can practice at until they succeed. Conquering these obstacles instills a sense of confidence that can overflow into other areas of their lives: “If I can do the monkey bars, I can definitely learn to tie my shoes or solve this math problem.”

Improved social skills

Whether you plan to meet friends at the playground or run into some children who are already there, parks give your child a chance to socialize in a way that is different from how they do so in other environments.

Playgrounds lend themselves to unstructured play, including creating their own games. This teaches them how to listen well, negotiate and compromise, follow rules, take turns and collaborate.

Enhanced critical thinking skills

Things don’t always go as they should on a playground. Running into situations they didn’t expect ensures that your child will use their problem-solving skills.

What do you do when the steering wheel won’t spin the way you want it to? How can you get up to reach the monkey bars when you are not tall enough? How can you pump your legs to make the swing go higher?

Strengthened immune system

We don’t like to think about it, but playgrounds are literally breeding grounds for germs and viruses. As much as we would like to protect our children from every cough and cold, we know that is not wise. Being exposed to germs (in maderation) helps children build their immunity and therefore be healthier over time.

There are also countless overall health system benefits to playing outdoors in general. There is no doubt that physical activity leads to many health benefits for children’s cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems.

Gross and fine motor development

Outside play offers opportunities to move your children’s bodies in ways that cannot be done indoors. Balancing, climbing, digging, swinging, crawling, running – these are all acts that every child performs in a playground setting and each one teaches children how to coordinate the different parts of their bodies.

Many pieces of equipment at parks require fine motor skills such as grasping, stability and postural control. An increase in popularity of special activity features like Tic-Tac-Toe boards, mazes, abacus, and alphabet or number puzzles also promote an array of fine motor skills.

Encourages imagination

If you have ever spent any amount of time near a play structure, you learn pretty quickly that most things are not as they seem. A ladder is rarely a ladder, it’s usually a mountain, rocket ship or even a giraffe. Slides are more often elephant’s trunks, rollercoasters or rainbows.

Simply stepping foot on a playground can (and will!) transform your child into a pirate, astronaut or princess.

Promotes leadership skills

When watching children in an unorganized play setting, it usually becomes apparent who the leader of the pack is. There is generally one child who explains the rules of the game and tells the other children where they should be and what they should be doing. This is important for both the leader and the other children because, in life, we all need to lead and follow at different times and in varying environments.

Improved sleep

This one is no secret. Children who have had the ability to play outside and use their bodies sleep better at night and therefore are more rested. Research has shown that playing in playgrounds, increases children’s endorphin production, which in turn increases melatonin and results in a better night’s sleep.

Reduced anxiety

Children who are prone to anxiety and frustration can get a release from free play on equipment.  On top of the fact that moving your body outdoors produces endorphins (the “feel-good hormone”), simply spending time outside is naturally soothing for children.

Exposure to Vitamin D (from the sun) might also play a role in helping to keep the stress away.

Encouraging your children to play in playgrounds (and taking the time out of your day to go with them) teaches them the skills they need to become happy, healthy, successful adults. In addition to the long list of physical benefits, playing in a playground is helping them to develop creativity and imagination, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and even the ability to form healthy relationships with others.

So, the next time your kids ask, “Can we go to the park?” let the answer be yes!