It’s clear that communities should take steps to promote the growth and creativity of children by taking into account their vivid imaginations and doing what we can to encourage them through play.
An excellent example of a place where imagination can run rampant is the local playground. You can see kids pretending to be pirates, their favorite cartoon heroes, or any of a whole host of characters they know from games, TV, and movies.
If you’re getting ready to create a playground or refurbish a playground, it’s a good idea to promote childhood growth and development with the equipment you install.
Read on for insight into why growth and creativity are so important as you keep children’s imagination top of mind, so to speak, during the playground design and construction process.
Creativity to Develop Empathy and Interaction on the Playground
Children may arrive as individuals but soon become part of a group or join different groups as they move from one game or activity to the next. Playground activities present an opportunity for kids to become more in tune with the people around them.
When kids are playing on the playground, they will be imagining themselves in their peers’ shoes, as noted by a report from ParentCircle. Playtime becomes an opportunity to improve empathic skills and learn how to cooperate with other people. It’s important for child development because kids grow more confident as they figure out how to engage with others while playing.
Exercising the Imagination to Improve Motor Skills
When kids are outside enjoying themselves at the playground, they are not just getting some much-needed fresh air, sunshine, and exercise. They are also developing their motor skills, per ParentCircle. Dancing around or leaping over bushes helps kids boost their eye-hand coordination and improve their muscle memory.
Mastering your ability to throw a ball goes hand in hand with picking up crayons and drawing a house and tree, or learning how to express what’s inside your head by writing. Becoming more physically adept on the playground can translate to feelings of confidence and possibility in the classroom too.
Getting Fresh Air Outdoors, Away From Screens, Is Critical for Developing Kids’ Imagination
When children are spending most of their time inside, glued to games or TV shows, it’s difficult to see how they can actually exercise their imaginative powers. The park you create to encourage them to play will be instrumental in provoking creative flights of fancy!
Unstructured Time Leads to Creative Thinking
There’s much to be said for idleness and not needing to be on a timeline. Away from the pressures of homework deadlines or looming tests, kids can let their hair down at the playground and engage in purposeless fun, also known as play. With unstructured time at their disposal, you can anticipate that children will use these opportunities to be creative and exercise their imagination, according to Bright Horizons.
And unstructured time spent with other children also eager to explore their imagination helps to reinforce the idea that it’s okay to be creative, whether in the classroom, at home, or when at the local playground.
Stimulate the Minds of Children in Your Community With the Help of Churchich Recreation and Design
A child’s imagination is a powerful resource we should encourage and promote. That’s how we can maintain a successful society and continue progressing. So, it’s no wonder that schools, associations, and entire communities are interested in creating playgrounds that spark engagement and promote the exercise of the imagination and not just the body.
The experts at Churchich Recreation and Design have years of experience assisting communities large and small as they develop and set up new playgrounds or refurbish existing playgrounds. If you have questions about how your playground will play a role in promoting creativity and growth in children by appealing to their imagination, we are here to consult with you. Get started by contacting us today!