Playground Playbook

Playgrounds can be fun, exciting, and sometimes intimidating for kids and their parents. The playground provides many opportunities for children to play and learn, and almost every part of a playground can be turned into a therapeutic activity for your child. Here are some ways you can turn your next trip to the playground into a fun and therapeutic activity for your child.

 

Balance 

There are many different parts of the playground that can help your child improve their balance. Many playgrounds have bridges across the structure that may be a little bit wobbly, which is a great place for your child to practice their balance. Even walking across the uneven surfaces around the playground provide a balance challenge! Walking up ramps and slides encourage the use of the muscles we use to balance every day as well. Some playgrounds may have toadstool/stepping stone type objects that provide great balance and body awareness by stepping across these obstacles. Other playgrounds may have a merry-go-round or even large platform swings that move forward and backward. These types of equipment allow for higher level balance practice by having your child stand in place and slowly moving these so they have to maintain their balance. 

 

Strength

The playground is full of opportunities to work on building your child’s strength.

Swinging is a great way to work on core strength whether your child is propelling the swing themselves or being pushed. Their core muscles are activating to keep them seated upright on the swing while it is moving. If they are propelling themselves, it incorporates upper and lower body strength as well.  Most playgrounds have stairs somewhere on the play structure, which is a great spot for your child to work on leg strengthening. Walking up and down slides and ramps is also a great way to work on leg strength while at the playground. Sliding down slides is a great way to work on core strength as well, as long as your child remains seated upright when going down. Some playgrounds may have small rock walls, monkey bars, or good places to climb, which provide whole body strengthening.

 

Going to the playground is a great way to make therapy fun outside! With all of the different equipment and surfaces, there are so many opportunities to make your next trip to the playground fun and challenging in a therapeutic way. The activities listed above are only a few ways to make the playground therapeutic, the options are endless with a little creativity and planning!

If you are looking for even more ways to make your next trip to the playground therapeutic for your child, talk to your CTD Physical Therapist!