Help Your Kids Develop Healthy Habits

Outdoor play has been an integral part of childhood for as long as most can remember. In fact, basketball was invented as early as 1891 when a physical education teacher nailed peach baskets ten feet from the ground. It didn’t take long for the bottoms to be removed from the baskets to make retrieval easier, giving birth to one of the nation’s most beloved outdoor sports. A playground initiative was enacted in 1907 following a speech from President Teddy Roosevelt about the importance of dedicated playgrounds to keep kids off the streets, and legislation quickly followed in many states. New Jersey was the first to enact comprehensive legislation creating a playground commission which would select, purchase, and conduct state playground sites.

One hundred years later, the issue is as real as ever, but for different reasons. Unless childhood obesity is addressed soon, a full third of all children born in 2000 or later will, at some point in their lives, suffer from diabetes. It is essential to instill good exercise habits before children reach ten. That’s where kids outdoor playsets come into play.

Why Build Your Own Outdoor Playset?

Many parents don’t feel comfortable bringing their children to public playgrounds, and others simply want their children to have more opportunity for outdoor play. Whatever the reason, wood swing sets for kids and backyard playsets have become incredibly popular for families with children. They encourage gross motor development and good fitness habits, all of which are predictors of later success in life.

What Does a Good Playset Have?

Whether you decide to build your own outdoor playset or purchase one, it’s important to make sure that you include components that will foster your child’s development while providing safety and security. The safety issue is why many parents opt to purchase rather than build your own outdoor playset. High quality kids outdoor playsets have the following components:

Climbing Equipment

Climbing is a difficult task for little ones to master, and there are a variety of ways to help them practice. Modern playsets can have small rock walls, rope ladders, or wooden ladders. All of those components help kids to learn how to support their own weight and practice coordination.

Balance Equipment

Most playsets accomplish the balance component with swingsets, though others feature balance beams. Swings help kids to get a sense for the way their bodies move through space and help them practice equilibrium skills as they learn to pump.

Equipment for Upper Arm Strength

Some playsets have the space for a series of horizontal bars that kids can travel across with their arms. Others have hanging rings where children enjoy holding themselves off the ground or even performing supported, airborne somersaults.

Imaginative Play Equipment

Though it has little bearing on physical fitness, imaginative play is critical to childhood development. “Clubhouses” containing steering wheels or sandboxes are frequently integrated into outdoor playsets to encourage imaginative play and creativity.

Whether you choose to build your own outdoor playset or purchase a pre made one, consider incorporating these elements for a playset your children will love and grow from. More like this: playnlearn.com