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Get outside and spend time with your family planting seeds. Just being outdoors together is a bonding experience and teaching your children how to nurture a seed and grow a plant will give them pleasure and skills for life. Children learn fine motor skills, concentration, hand eye coordination, and above all patience. Over time, they will see the full cycle of planting, germination, growing, and harvesting. Make it more rewarding by planting edible plants such as herbs and vegetables which you can prepare together as part of a meal. Don’t forget to teach them to wash their harvest before eating it! Top Tips: Choose seeds that are large and easy to handle for little hands. Start with fast-growing seeds like sunflowers, beans, or radishes to keep children engaged. Try to make it fun – don’t worry if they sow too many seeds in each pot or drop them all on the floor. If they pick the first green tomato before it ripens or pull flower heads off the plants, you can always sow a few extra seeds on your own to ensure that some of the plants do well. This website gives lots of guidance on planting seeds with toddlers and shows you how to build a mini greenhouse propagator https://growinghealthykids.co.uk/growing-seeds-with-toddlers/

Rustics Jungle Gyms was commissioned to install an exciting playground at the Kingsway Racquet Club. The aim was to make the Kingsway club, the club of choice for families in the area. According the project manager's testimonial, they did a fantastic job! Roy says, “Parents are loving the peace of mind that comes with our safe new play space; it allows them to hit the Padel courts knowing their little ones are happy and secure. The playground incorporates a wide variety of activities which keep the children fully engaged, making every visit a win-win for the whole family." The design includes: Four raised platforms each with railings and shade cloth roofs; a cargo net balance beam bridge between two of the platforms; a ramp climber with knotted rope; a 2.2m glass fibre slide and rung ladder, a sandpit, a gymnastics bar, a set of monkey bars, two trapeze bars AND three tyre swings! “I commend Toni and her team on their professionalism – I have already been asked for their details by several Club members and am very comfortable recommending them.” Roy Godfrey

Set yourself up for success with these tips on how to stick to your resolutions Be Specific: Instead of "spend more quality time with the children," try "spend 30 minutes playing with them at least, 3 times a week". Start Small: Begin with tiny, manageable habits (e.g., 5-10 minutes) and build from there. Frame goals positively e.g. "spend more quality time withy my children" vs. "stop avoiding play with my children” Track Progress: Celebrate small wins to stay motivated. Share Goals: Tell friends or family for accountability. Be Realistic: Aim for 1-3 core resolutions to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Find Meaning: Choose goals that genuinely excite you and align with your values.

Did you resolve to spend more quality time with your children or to get healthier? We have put together a list of suggestions of how you can do just that…and how you can make this one of the resolutions which you stick to! Get a Jungle Gym (well, yes, of course we would say that!) and play outside with your children. Play is beneficial for people of all ages. Outdoor play develops physical, emotional and social skills helping to build bonds between you and your children. Read More Create an exercise routine around your jungle gym so you can all workout together – this will to help you meet any fitness goals you may have set yourself while still spending time with your children. Read More Use your jungle gym to teach your children calculated risk-taking – encourage them to swing high, climb to the top, slide to the bottom. Succeeding will give a sense of overcoming fears and will build confidence, self-trust and independence. You might just push yourself out of your own comfort zones too! Read more All this AND you get the additional benefits of being outdoors in the sunshine Read More

The Everyday People Church in Glen Eden, recently contacted Rustics Jungle Gyms to upgrade its existing Rustics playground which only had a small jungle gym and two swings. "Toni came to site, offered valuable advice and was able to work with us to create an exciting new playground space within our budget constraints. We were able to add a double tower, tyre climber, monkey bars, a swing boat, trapeze swing and a tyre swing. "Toni was lovely to deal with, and very efficient in her communication. I would highly recommend Rustics Jungle Gyms to anyone looking to install or upgrade playground equipment. "In just a day and a half our playground was looking bright and playful again. "...and the best part - the children absolutely love the new additions!" Kristy, Children's Ministry Worker, Everyday People Church

What better gift for your children than years and years of outdoor, physical PLAY! We recently installed our Salem Unit in an East London family's garden and this is what Mom, Lauren had to say: "My kids love the jungle gym, my daughter’s new favourite word is “slide”. Every day after school they go straight to the yard to play. It really allows them to get out their energy in a safe environment right at home. "My children are 5 and 1 and a half years old I need a jungle gym that can grow with them, something that I know will last - a Salem Unit from Rustics was the absolute best choice. We can add new and exciting elements onto the base unit as they get older, keeping them interested and outside for longer." "Thank you Rustics for an outstanding experience, the team was amazing at putting everything up quick and efficiently."

In a previous article  we highlighted the importance of play-based learning. This month we offer links to resources to help you as a parent or teacher to unlock the power of PLAY to teach the children in your care: https://playsa.org/  - offers free PLAY courses, which offer theory and practical instruction, based on age groups: Birth - 2 years: Learn how to help babies and toddlers reach their developmental milestones. 2 - 5 years: Lay the children’s foundations for language, communication and maths. Grade R: Lay the foundations for skills children will use throughout the rest of their schooling career. Grade 1 – 3: Includes play activities and links them to CAPS. Let us know if these course were useful!

Active parents and teachers serve as role models, promoting physical activity and a healthier lifestyle to their children. Take your lessons outside and not only will you be setting a good example and reaping the benefits of physical activity for yourself, you will also be improving the children's academic performance; the proven benefit of linking academic learning to physical activity.  There are no excuses for not taking learning outside! Make your lessons physical! There is a growing body of evidence that proves that Physically Active Learning (PAL), which integrates movement with the delivery of academic content, can improve a child’s retention of knowledge and memory and, as a result, enhance their academic performance. Check out this 12 minute YouTube video from Bryn Mawr School and read this article to find out more about the results of PAL There are other resources to get you started with incorporating PAL lessons into your school day at this link https://www.yhlearning.co.uk/courses/physically-active-learning Take it outside! Take your Physically Active Learning lessons outside, and you can reap the additional benefits of spending time in sunshine, for everyone: Improved sleep and reduced stress Strengthened immune system Fight off depression Strengthened bones Live longer? Read more here

The value of PLAY As parents and teachers, we all want our children to succeed and the desire for them to do well, to get qualifications and ultimately secure a great job, puts us, and our children, under pressure. This has translated into a focus on academic performance with extra home work and extra lessons all becoming the norm. But are we missing something? "Play is the vehicle through which children absorb knowledge organically, effortlessly blending cognitive, physical, emotional and social development." https://storiesofplay.com/the-power-of-play-redefining-learning-for-our-children/ Should we be filling all of our children’s time with organised activities? The answer is NO! Play is essential to the development of creativity, critical thinking and a love for learning which will fuel a child’s curiosity and foster a thirst for knowledge that will naturally propel them forward. More than “Just" play Play is not just frivolous, aimless fun. By giving our children the time and space to play, we are giving them the opportunity to grow into curious, resilient, and self-motivated individuals with a genuine love for learning. We are equipping them with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. As parents and teachers, we need to change our mindset and embrace the idea that learning is not confined to textbooks and structured lessons and that play is an essential foundation upon which a child can grow and succeed. Read our previous articles on play and childhood development Get a Rustics jungle gym to make outside play challenging, stimulating and FUN!

University of Fort Hare installs Rustics playground as part of their multi-million Rand new Early Childhood Care and Education Department facility in East London.   This state-of-the-art building and playground will be used for training, teaching, and research of early childhood development. The three-storey building is fitted with early childhood learning spaces, student training and teaching rooms, rehabilitation and therapy rooms and incorporates admin and support areas.   The playground is central to the entire structure and is built to inspire academic staff, education students and the children who attend the ECD centre.   Liaising with the contractor, Transtruct, and the University, Rustics was able to meet the tight deadlines to get the playground installed in time for the grand launch of the facility on 7 August. "We had the pleasure of working with Rustic Jungle Gyms for the installation of children’s playground equipment at UFH Early Childhood Development Centre, and the experience was outstanding. From start to finish, their team demonstrated professionalism, expertise, and a genuine passion for creating safe, engaging play spaces. The installation process was seamless. The team paid close attention to safety standards, quality of workmanship, and the overall design, ensuring that every piece of equipment was both fun and secure for children of all ages. Communication was clear and proactive, and deadlines were consistently met without compromising quality. Thanks to Rustic Jungle Gyms, we now have a playground that children will love and parents will trust. Their dedication to safety, creativity, and excellence makes them a top choice for anyone looking to create memorable and safe play experiences." Mandlenkosi Moss Construction Manager Transtruct

The East London Montessori school recently called in the Rustics team to do a facelift on its 10 year old Tarantula Play System. Principal, Coral Yelseth says, "The children use the tarantula all the time, every break and aftercare, and it has survived hard PLAY for over 10 years. We decided it was time to call in the Rustics team, to give the Tarantula a bit of a refurbishment. Our children couldn't wait to get back on it."   "I would recommend The Tarantula Play System to other schools as it gives a good range of physical activities for the children.    "Toni and team were amazing. The service was excellent and prompt. They take pride in their work and want their masterpiece to remain in pristine condition."

The Rustics Jungle Gyms team recently completed the installation of a Valley Unit in the Selborne Primary School Intermediate Phase playground.   Mrs. Calver, Deputy Principal of the Foundation Phase says, "Working with Toni and the Rustics team has been an absolute pleasure. From the very first inspection, they were thorough, professional and honest, offering valuable feedback that helped us create both a realistic budget and a long-term plan. "Their willingness to adjust their timeline to accommodate our school holidays was a huge help and the installation process ran smoothly from start to finish. "The boys’ excitement and the staff’s positive response on the first day back was priceless — a truly wonderful way to start Term 3.   We are grateful for such a professional, collaborative and satisfying experience with the Rustics Jungle Gym Team." If you want the same FUN for your children, contact us with your specifications and we will design the perfect playground!