s.m.a.r.t. (at home) and in the park!

Build better brains while playing in the park! Parks offer a wide range of opportunities that stimulate our sensory systems and encourage gross motor movements. Here are some playground activities that the brain loves:

Swings!

Swinging brings balance to the brain. It produces a sense of calm. Sensory information is being sent to the brain through the vestibular and proprioceptive system. When on a swing, children can move front to back, side to side, and even around and around in a circle. 

These sensations help both systems mature and build our body awareness. Body awareness is the ability to understand where we are in space and how to move about through it. Having a good understanding of body awareness will help your child be able to sit comfortably while learning, stay focused on the lesson, and move about in a more coordinated way.
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PS: They are gaining the ability to sit still during dinner too!

​Slides!

Slides give us great sensory input in the form of vestibular stimulation too. When we slide down, we feel that sense of acceleration. This fast sensation promotes the maturity of the vestibular system, allowing us to have a greater sense of control of our body.

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Monkey Bars!

This piece of equipment is awesome for handwriting development. When children hang from the monkey bars, they are developing strength and dexterity in the muscles of their hands. Building strength in their upper body leads to more refined fine motor skills like handwriting.

When playing on the monkey bars, make sure your child is holding the bar with a motorcycle grip, with the thumb curling under and around the rung. 

This grip builds the foundation for holding a pencil properly, which means moving across the monkey bars is helping your child with writing skills!​

​So the next time you find yourself playing in the park with your children, know that you are making your child a S.M.A.R.T. child!

​Want more information? Check out the article "M is for Monkey Bars" written by child development expert Gill Connell.