by Lisa MacLeod, Account Manager
What if the road to the summit was more important than the destination itself?
The priority of any parent or educator is to ensure the development and fulfillment of their children. What if I told you that simply letting children play freely was the best way to support their development?
WHAT IS PLAY VALUE?
Playing not only gives children a sense of happiness, it also helps them develop physically, socially-emotionally, cognitively and creatively. Through play, children learn to socialize, cooperate and climb, as well as develop their balance, bone density and muscular strength . All this is essential to the child’s development.
KOMPAN play structures are designed by the Kompan Play Institute, based on research by experts in child development, psychology and physical education.
Their priority is to include a wide variety of play values in each of their play structures. Isn’t that exactly what you should be looking for when designing your playground?
KOMPAN Play Institute
“Bigger is not always better” or what really counts!
A play structure doesn’t necessarily have to be very large to be attractive and interesting. On the contrary, the more a play structure includes a diversity of play values, the more it will attract children to play there and, above all, to want to return. For example, if children are presented with graduated challenges adapted to their age group, they will learn to manage risk safely and progress at their own pace. He’ll be so proud when he reaches the top of the climbing net for the first time, whereas just a few months before he’d only managed to reach halfway up!
If a large play structure, impressive at first glance, offers only a very limited amount of play value, it may be imposing, but children will soon tire of playing it for want of new aspects to explore .
That’s why the road to the summit is actually far more important than the destination itself! If the structure offers them a variety of ways to climb, with graduated challenges, if the angle of the slide has been studied and if it includes fun elements at all levels, you can be sure that children will not only spend a longer time playing there, but they’ll definitely ask you to come back! Doesn’t it make you want to trust the experts when selecting your play structure?
The Robinia Parcours 4 and music panels are perfect examples of play elements that maximize play value.
Why add unnecessary expenses to the cost of your project?
A large play structure that doesn’t provide enough diversified play value will not only prove incapable of keeping children interested and stimulated, it will also require the installation of a larger absorption surface, which will only increase the cost of your project.
A play structure that occupies fewer square feet of floor space, but is filled with a wide variety of play elements, allowing the child to enjoy different experiences, will also have the advantage of requiring fewer square feet of absorption surface.
In short, what will make your project a success and your investment profitable? children will be happy! If they thrive on playing in your play structure, if it keeps them captivated for a long time and they always want to play again, even after a few years, you can consider your project a great success!
I invite you to listen to this video by Dr. Jeanette Fich Jespersen and Dr. Suzan Quinn of Kompan Play Institute:
about LISA MACLEOD
After studying interior design and working for several years in construction and architecture, I found myself, by a happy coincidence, starting my career at Atmosphäre as a project manager.
My passion for design now follows me into my role as Account Manager, and is reflected in the advice I give my customers and the attention I pay to their projects!
