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The Many Benefits of Naturally Playful Playscapes
Natural Elements that Include the Surrounding Area Set These Playscapes Apart Play is a means by which we first form our understanding of the wider world. Most of our earliest interactions involve play and play-like behaviors. For example, peek-a-boo is an important milestone in cognitive development that demonstrates an emerging…
The Playful Truth – Office Slides Contribute to a Productive Work Environment
For These Offices, Playground Equipment is not Just for Kids The connection between play and productivity is well established. The dopamine produced by our brains during play activities is a powerful motivator. The effects of which last far beyond the initial period of play and positively impact a person’s approach…
10 Swings to Help You Soar (and More)
Creative Designs and Uses that Go Beyond the Traditional Playground Swing When it comes to playground equipment, the swing holds a special place. Swings are often among the most popular features of any playscape. They give everyone an opportunity to soar through the air while always encouraging us to reach…
Play to Learn, The Importance of Recess in Education
As Children Return to School, A Reminder that Daily Play Makes a Measurable Difference Since the early days of one-room school houses, recess has been an important part of education. In those early times, there was often an informal period of play before and after school, in addition to…
Limitless Fun, The Impact of Rick Henke’s Approach to Playground Creation
Playgrounds Were Nothing New, Until Goric’s Founder Helped Change the Game It all comes down to perspective. Children explore a world much different than the ones inhabited by adults. Everything is bigger and harder to reach. As a child, it can often seem that adults spend their time telling you what not to…
PLAYGROUNDS FOR ADULTS – THEY SHOULD PLAY TOO!
These Twelve Parks for Grown-Ups Offer the Benefits of Play and a Good Time We are all lucky to live in an age of expansive play. Adult playgrounds and similar facilities are available throughout the U.S. for most anyone’s enjoyment and benefit. Each one serves as evidence that playgrounds,…
Intergenerational Playgrounds Promote Common Ground for Kids Ages 1 to 99!
The Merry-Go-Round is rated for children both in wheelchairs and without. It sits flush against the play mat for easy access. When you play a word association game with ‘playground’, you’ll likely get some of the following responses: sand; ladders; monkey bars; summer; children. It’s worth noticing that the word ‘children’ is included, but where are all the ‘grown-ups’? A new movement for intergenerational playgrounds has the potential to change this outdated conception. Historically,…
Playground Designer Spotlight: Frank Gehry
Born Ephraim Owen Goldberg, architect Frank Gehry has brought his unique style of playfulness and whimsy to every project he’s been a part of. Whether it’s designing watches for Fossil or the artistic Fondation Louis Vuitton Center in Paris, his dramatic style is completely evident in each one of his structures. Not…
Playground Roadtrip: 10 Best Water Features on the East Coast
Summer is here and hotter than ever. Still, you can’t keep the kids inside forever. Why not engage in a little creative play at your nearest water feature? From splash pads to creative water stations, we’ve compiled a list of the best East Cost adventures for families looking for low-budget,…
National Mobility Awareness Month: Great Ways to Play this Summer!
Over 18 million people in the US deal with mobility issues on a daily basis. These issues span the entirety of American culture, from veterans to athletes. One of the demographics impacted most by mobility issues are children below the age of 18. While they often have access to the same education…
Education Desert: How Unstructured Play Can Grow Healthy Kids in Low-Income Areas
Play is such a vital part of the childhood experience that it seems almost impossible to imagine one without the other. Outdoor exploration, playground adventures, and art are examples of unstructured play that teach problem-solving skills and improve self-esteem. Yet, this type of play is not available to children in all socioeconomic areas. Because of…
ASD-Friendly Play: Choosing a Playground for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder
April 1, 2015 marked a historic first. It was the first time in the history of the U.S. that a president officially declared World Autism Awareness Day complete with festivities, $1.3 billion in federal funding to further ASD and related brain research, and a declaration with a Presidential Seal. “On World Autism Awareness Day,…
