Whether you’re a daycare provider, teacher, or parent, you likely try to think of unique ways to engage your children on a daily basis. While the regular daily curriculum is certainly important to a child’s healthy cognitive development, fun side activities such as field trips can provide an added bonus. Let the kids blow off a little steam by planning a creative field trip that they’ll love. They won’t even realize they’re learning! An indoor children’s playground makes for an ideal venue for such an outing.
Educational Yet Fun Experience
Field trips are meant to act as adjuncts to a child’s education. In addition to cognitive learning, kids can also engage in physical activity to strengthen their muscles, spatial skills, and social skills. An indoor playground, for example, can foster learning, self-esteem, and social interaction via interactive play areas, according to Kid Junction. This is especially beneficial when the weather outside is not conducive to outdoor play and nature walks. Instead, kids can still experience learning and exercise through a controlled, safe environment that allows for imaginative play that is full of manipulatives, age-appropriate toys, games, puzzles, and physical challenges. In such an environment, you’ll also find interactive areas with various themes that appeal to all ages (such as grocery stores, theater stages, post offices, and restaurants), toddler areas for the wee ones, mazes and obstacles for older kids, and even arcade areas that encourage motor skill coordination. Each area is safe and age-appropriate for all levels, with specific designations for each age group that is clearly marked for the safety of all involved.
Benefits of Indoor Playgrounds
Kids’ health depends greatly on the physical activity they get. According to the American Heart Association, every child should get at least one hour of moderate to vigorous activity every day. When it’s impossible to get outside, or you just want a change of scene for students to go along with a lesson plan, physical activity can take many forms, such as an indoor children’s playground. Staying active means children can not only control their weight, but also decrease their blood pressure, boost their good cholesterol, elevate their self-confidence, and reduce risk of diabetes, points out the AHA. In addition, kids can strengthen muscles and bones, get better sleep at night, and develop a more positive outlook on life, says KidsHealth. Kids also strengthen their cognitive connections as well through indoor play spaces, which can increase their learning ability by helping brain cells grow and thrive, according to Parenting Science. Playtime also encourages the absorption of academic lessons through imaginative play. In addition to self-regulation, the opportunity to play can boost language skills and social skills. This way, they learn how to get along with peers, pay attention, follow social mores, control themselves, follow rules, and check their impulses. Here are a few more tips you can use:
The next time you need to schedule a field trip outside the classroom or home, consider an indoor children’s playground as your destination. t may not seem like it, but children can learn valuable lessons and gain the necessary physical fitness they need to thrive, grow and develop their bodies and minds.