Jungle Gym Or Brain Gym? - child development and physical activity

Parks & Recreation, June, 2000 by Teresa B. Hendy

Children love the challenge of upper body devices and derive a lot of physical and psychological pleasure from mastering these events, making it desirable to provide them with a variety of upper body activities in a playground environment. Low turning bars, horizontal ladders, and ring treks offer varying degrees of challenge; however, the track ride is often considered to be the most challenging of the upper body devices--not because of the strength needed to hold onto the trolley mechanism, but due to the knowledge required to be able to anticipate cause and effect of the body being flung forward when the trolley hits the end of the track. A child younger than four years old often does not have the ability to anticipate the sudden stop and does not have the upper body strength to hold on upon impact.

Swings offer one of the best opportunities for a child to develop balance and coordination, as the movement of swinging is a form of vestibular stimulation (inner ear development) and is important to the development of the motor patterns that enable a child to read. When children learn to swing, they are developing a higher level of balance, coordination, and spatial awareness that translate to sequencing skills and, ultimately, academic readiness. Spring/rocking toys, merry-go-rounds, suspended bridgeways, log rolls, track rides, and flexible climbers are all play components that encourage this type movement.

Often playground owners are reluctant to install swings or other movement-related activities because of potential injury concerns. Because movement is so innate to human development, it would be more appropriate to evaluate the true causes of these injuries, such as where these items are located within the play environment, to reduce risk. Ensure that swings are isolated from of the general flow of traffic; don't situate a swing set in a manner that forces a child to walk through the swings to get from one area of the playground to another. Keep merry-go-rounds to the perimeter of the play area and understand that a preschool-age child requires supervision when using one. Log rolls and track rides are a more advanced form of movement requiring a greater level of strength and skill; therefore, they should not be included in an area intended for preschool children.

Happy, healthy children are physically, emotionally, and socially fit. Providing a well-developed play environment enables children to leave the appeal of sedentary recreation such as video games and enjoy themselves outside. In turn, key cognitive and motor skills are developed and the child is better prepared for the academic world, enriching not only the each individual child, but also society as a whole.

Additional Reading:

Dennison, P. and Dennison G. (1994). Brain Gym. Ventura, CA: The Educational Kinesiology Foundation.

Hannaford, C. (1995). Smart Moves. Arlington, VA: Great Ocean Publishing Co.

McCabe, M. L. (1999). "FitKid" Curriculum Guide for Elementary School Exercise Equipment.

Getting bumps and bruises on the playground is normal in a child's daily life, but when those bruises turn into serious injuries, playground safety becomes a major issue--especially to Teresa "Teri" Hendy. Hendy, whose article appears on page 84, brings extensive knowledge of design, standards, and guidelines to the playground business. Her primary concern is promoting safety, while developing challenging, creative, and fun play environments.