How is Imagination Playground different than other playgrounds?
Traditional playgrounds consist primarily of fixed equipment, such as slides, monkey bars and teeter-totters, all of which focus on developing children’s gross motor skills. Imagination Playground, on the other hand, is an interactive, transformable environment that prompts children to manipulate their environment and create a playspace of their own with sand, water and loose parts. Imagination Playground addresses a broader spectrum of play needs through opportunities for fantasy play and socio-cooperative play, in addition to more traditional running, jumping and climbing. Kids need to be active on many levels, and they need to exercise their minds as well as their muscles. Research shows that children at the age of eight who have experienced varied and challenging play are considerably better prepared to benefit from ongoing formal education. Imagination Playground can be used by itself, or in conjunction with traditional playground equipment.
A. Imagination Playground is based around the concept of “free play,” a simple but powerful idea that children should initiate and direct their own play, and should be able to manipulate their environment. The emphasis will be on interactive and creative play where sand, water, and Loose Parts combine to make this an active, dynamic, kid-centered environment.
