Why is water play essential in early childhood?

Studies show that water play offers tremendous benefits to children.  The idea of being "in our element" often refers to being in our comfort zone, and is at times associated with positive, natural experiences, such as being outdoors with sand, rocks and water.

Water play is beneficial for childhood development because it is an open-ended activity, offering opportunities for social interactions and personal development.  With these come imaginative play, experimentation, and conceptual development.

Here are some key benefits:

• Personal science-based discoveries
• Soothing sensory exploration
• Connection with natural elements
• Full-body sensory engagement
• Hand-eye coordination and balance
• Understanding math and science concepts, i.e, volume, elemental properties
• Problem-solving

Water play activities can be small or large scale.  They can take place indoors or outside, in the summer or during the winter.

Here are a few ideas:

Splashing in rain puddles
Sand and water play at the beach
Community water park
Watering the plants
Water tray activities
Bath tub play

Curiosity leads to imagination.  Comment and/or add more to the list given and share stories about how your kids play with water.

It's a walk in the park

Hidden Falls Park in Henderson, NV

Today is a day worth celebrating, especially since it's good for you and you can do it 15 minutes.  Happy National Walk in the Park Day!  We're excited by this particular holiday because it reminds us how important it is to take the time to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.  Whether you do this in your business attire during a break, or spend the afternoon with the family to sneak in a well-deserved respite, it's a must-do activity.

We encourage you to visit parks for both exercise and relaxation.  Parks are the ideal outdoor destination because of their beautiful scenery, paths, terrain and sounds of nature.  At Creative Play, we also enjoy hearing the sounds of children playing at parks.  Knowing that children get their outdoor time and exercise is music to our ears because our mission is to build parks and playgrounds that promote healthy lifestyles.  

This Earth Day, Think Sustainability in Our Community

Sustainable living has certainly become a buzz phrase.  More and more people are looking at ways to reduce their ecological footprint, like driving less, being water-smart and conserving energy.  But is this enough?  Taking the concept of sustainable living beyond the individualistic approach, to a broader community, we can learn to see our interconnectedness to our environment and its inhabitants and realize the benefits as a whole.   Achieving sustainability requires a sophisticated view that extends beyond the world of natural processes into the social.

That is why when we talk about sustainability, our emphasis weighs heavily on building communities.  Beyond forests, we’re talking about city and state parks, public squares, and community parks. 

More specifically, it’s the opportunity to develop common play areas where people of all ages (and abilities) can come to enjoy.  Sustaining our community through parks, playgrounds and small community outdoor leisure destinations brings the world closer. Furthermore, play brings families, friends and communities together.  It keeps us fit and makes us smile.

Research shows that play is a key element of development and health for all individuals of all ages and abilities.  Unfortunately, play is being threatened on every front in the U.S.  It’s seen as a “children-only” activity, if it’s thought of at all.

At the community level, the best way to protect the idea of play and encourage the building of communities is to strive for change.  The first step is to detect conditions and respond appropriately.  For example, close-knit communities are seemingly non-existent today.  Play areas which used to be within a walking distance from home, are now sometimes a 10-minute car ride away.  Nationally, childhood obesity is at its all-time high.  One of the greatest answers to this is health education and the development of more available recreational outlets.

Healthy ecosystems and environments provide vital goods and services to people of all ages, income brackets, abilities and races.  Isn’t this, as a whole, the meaning of sustainable living?  

How Can a Little Play Change Your Day?

Play is one of the ways to sustain your body, mind and soul.  Often times when we talk about play, we're emphasizing physical activity, which means getting up and off the couch, setting down the Nintendo DSI and leaving online surfing for later.  It really doesn't matter how you move, as long as you’re physically active.  Move until you breathe hard or break a sweat and you will be doing great things for your body and physical health. What are some things things you'll notice after being active?

Saw some ZZZZ's.  Sleep is good.  Your body and your brain are constantly communicating with each other.  By being physically active during the day, your body can send the “I am tired” message instead of  “I am not sleepy” message when you are going to bed.

Boost your mood: Regular physical activity can give you a better attitude and provide an extra energy boost during the day.

Cross-train the noggin:  Physical activity before homework can help you unwind from a busy day.  It will recharge your mind and improve your  focus and concentration.  

Bond with sports buddies:  Engaging in physical activity is a great way to bond with friends and to even make new ones. Consider joining a community sports team or taking in some play time after school.

Flex Your Performance:   Remember to make stretching part of your pre- and post- play sessions. Stretching helps to improve your balance which in turn enhances coordination and athletic performance, and helps prevent sports injuries. 

Clear Things Up:  There's nothing better than getting fresh air while you're playing outside.  Fresh air, together with excercise,  helps to develop lungs, bring more oxygen to the brain and promote mental clarity.

What are some ways to get exercise in the cold? 

Building Strong Bones at the Playground

Bone health is just as important for children as it is adults.  In fact, building strong bones in their early years sets them up for a lifetime of good health and lowered risk of osteoporosis.  According to recent research, children who play regularly and get active exercise have stronger bones, especially hip bones, than those who are not as active. 

Building strong bones in kids is as easy as letting them run loose at a playground or park. Typical kid-play, like kicking the ball, riding a bike, running, jumping, playing hide-and-seek, are all great forms of vigorous play.  Additionally, any weight-bearing activity that pumps your child's heart rate is also a strong qualifier.  Remember to serve up yummy foods rich in Calcium and Vitamin D.  Boosting good bone health just can't get any easier than this.

Top 7 Benefits of Playing Outdoors

Playing outside?  What a great idea!

According to research, children are smarter, more cooperative, happier and healthier when they have varied opportunities for free, unstructured outdoor play.*  

Here are 7 benefits of playing outdoors:

1. Creative, imaginative play.  A simple example:  It's much more thrilling for a child to pretend to be an airline pilot under the big blue sky than it is to be inside.

2. Promotes emotional coping and stress reduction.  We like to call outdoor play a "re-set button."

3. Improved physical health and motor coordination. Kids that run around nature, are working to develop their whole body.  Hopping from boulder to boulder, for example, is true test of balance!

4. Cognitive, social and sensory development.  Nature's elements and specially designed playground equipment offer just the right stimulation for children of all disabilities.

5. Concentration, self-control and self-discipline.  The outdoors is full of learning experiences that can be achieved from individual, parallel and group play. 

6. Creative problem-solving skills. Kids can be exposed to situations that teach them about basic life skills and challenges.

7. An appreciation for the environment.  With guidance, children can discover nature and the world around them. Through engagement, they will also learn to respect it.

* Children and Nature 2008: A report on the movement to reconnect children to the Natural World