The playground offers a unique environment. There is so much development and therapeutic growth that can happen in an environment like a playground. With it’s slides and swings, surroundings, slope, surfaces, and colors, no two playgrounds are exactly alike. Just as all playgrounds are different,the childhood development that can occur using the equipment at a playground is vast.
This month in the Functional Skills for Kids series, ten Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists have teamed up to discuss the playground and childhood.
The links below will guide you through childhood development of capabilities at the playground, the fine motor development that can occur at a park, gross motor requirements for safety and independence, sensory therapy strategies that can be done at the playground, modification ideas, playground games for extending therapy, rules to break for developing progress, social skills that occur at the playground, and visual skill development that can develop at a playground.
What a resource for families and therapists!
Stop by to see all of the playground posts from the Functional Skills for Kids team:
Developmental Progression of Playground Skills | Your Therapy Source
Promoting Fine Motor Skills at the Playground |Miss Jaime OT
Sensory Processing at the Playground | The OT Toolbox
Modification Ideas for Playground Equipment for Children | Growing Hands-On Kids
Playground Rules to Break for Greater Play Skill Development | Kids Play Space
rel=”nofollow”Playground Games and Activities for Kids | The Inspired Treehouse
Developing Visual Skills and the Playground | Therapy Fun Zone
Try these outdoor play ideas:
