Spring has arrived and Summer is on the way! It’s finallytime to get out in the sunshine and play with your toddlers. MOCO Movement Center, a facility that specializes in teaching children to play in natural environments, has some tips to share with you to make your playground time safe and fun!
CAPTAIN ADVENTURE! – You are the captain of the adventure. Though you are in charge, let your childrenlead the exploration and play along too. For safety, they’llneed you to help maneuver on the equipment and redirect as needed. Let them have the power to choose their next step and be there to spot or assist as needed. As they initially explore the space, you will learn their skill level and determine your degree of proximity needed for safety. Letting your children lead the exploration will enhance your experience, and you’ll be amazed at what they think of next.
This is a special time to be with your children, so don’t be afraid to be silly, get dirty and have fun. As you play along, you’ll marvel at what they can do!
LOOK OUT! - Keep your toddlers safe by not letting them leave your sight. Doing so will mean taking a quick break from your phone. Only take it out for few quick pics, then get back to the fun!
GUIDE! - Playgrounds often have safety signs posted that give you insight into if the equipment is age appropriate. If this information is not available and you are unsure, trust your parental instincts!
ONWARD & UPWARD! - There are several fun ways to negotiate the playground equipment. Climbing is an important building block of development. You want your toddlers to explore in a safe way. Follow them up the stairs and ladders and see what awaits them!
Going up steps and ladders one step or rung at a time while holding onto the railing builds muscles and balance skills. Children can also look back and see how high they’ve climbed “on their own.” When helping them, hold their waist or under their armpits rather than holding theirhand. This gives them more balance practice and a sense that they are mastering the skill.
When doing the monkey bars, support your children but encourage them to manuver on their own. This will help build strength, control and body awareness.
ENLIGHTEN! -Teach your children safety through body awareness. This concept makes keeping their bodies safe a larger issue. Eventually, they will start to internalize natural consequences. For instance: “If I climb up this slide, someone else may not notice me and slide down and bump into me,” or “If I jump down from the monkey bars all alone, I may hurt myself.”
MAKE IT AN EXPEDITION! - Ask other families at the playground to join in your adventure or bring friends along!Encourage interaction among the children. Playing with other toddlers and watching older children will give your toddler a sense of the world around them. It can also spark new ideas for games to play, things to try, andencourage them to attempt something they haven’t mastered yet.
For more discussion on these topics, please contact MOCO Movement Center. And, if you are interested in an indoor adventure, join us for a toddler class any weekday! Your first class is FREE!
MOCO Movement Center
kids classes & pediatric therapy
www.mocomc.com, 301-770-KIDS (5437)
