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In this article we explore how the six stages of play, identified by sociologist Mildred Parten nearly 100 years ago, can be used as a guide in playground design. At Rustics, we are able to guide you in your playground equipment choices to optimise the cognitive, physical and social development opportunities of outdoor play at the later stages of play. Unoccupied Play (0-3 months) During this stage, children randomly move their arms, legs or head. They are simply exploring their environment and learning about their relationship with their body and surroundings. How to encourage unoccupied play Lay infants on a blanket in a stimulating environment, such as near a window or in a room with colourful objects. Offer sensory toys, like rattles or soft toys, that they can grasp or watch, encouraging them to observe and experiment with their movements. Solitary Play (3 months - 2 years) Solitary play is when a child plays alone, focusing on their activities without seeking interaction with others. This stage is great for fostering independence, creativity and concentration. How to encourage solitary play To nurture solitary play, create a play environment that is full of toys and materials. Offer activities that match the child’s interests, such as puzzles, art supplies or building blocks. Onlooker play (2 - 3½ years) Onlooker play occurs when a child observes others playing without directly participating. This is the first step in learning to play with others as it helps them learn about social interactions, rules and the dynamics of socialising. How to encourage onlooker play To encourage onlooker play, allow children to watch older siblings or peers as they play. At Rustics Jungle Gyms we create areas where children can sit quietly and observe others as they play: Drum Climber, Swings, & Platforms Parallel Play (2½ - 4 years) Parallel play occurs when children play alongside each other but do not interact directly. Each child is engaged in their individual activity, often with similar toys or materials, but without collaborating or sharing. Parallel play aids in early socialising skills, as it introduces children to the concept of playing in the presence of others. How to encourage parallel play To foster parallel play, provide children with the same or similar toys and place them near each other in a shared space. Gradually, they may begin to mimic or show interest in each other’s activities, paving the way for more interactive play. Rustics side-by-side playground features like spring rockers, swings and double wavy slide race can give children the opportunity to engage in parallel play. Associative Play (3 - 4½ years) Associative play is when children play together, but have different ideas and goals. For example, talking to each other and playing with the same toys, but doing different things. This stage helps develop communication skills, cooperation, and an understanding of social norms. How to encourage associative play To promote associative play, offer activities that lend themselves to group interaction, such as climbing, playing on the same equipment, or engaging in simple pretend play scenarios. Rustics climbing frames, slides, balance beams and cargo nets give children an opportunity for Associative play Cooperative Play (4½ years and up) Cooperative play is when children start working together towards a common goal or playing a shared game. During cooperative play, children create rules, assign roles, and collaborate to achieve an outcome, such as acting out a story. This helps your child to develop social skills. How to encourage cooperative play To support cooperative play, introduce activities that require teamwork, such as engaging in elaborate pretend play scenarios where children must work together to achieve a goal. Rustics Fairy Castle, Pirate Ship and Train provide the perfect environments for Cooperative play Rustics Jungle Gyms has a range of equipment to help communities and schools to develop the perfect playground for children at the each stage of childhood play development

Add a climbing wall to your playground and improve your children’s physical, planning and emotional skills Climbing walls are designed with a variety of grips and holds to challenge youngsters to develop their strength, balance and coordination. Identifying a route and climbing up, or across, a climbing wall encourages problem-solving and critical thinking, developing their mental acuity as well as their physical skills. Climbing walls are more than just exciting play elements; they inspire confidence and perseverance as children conquer personal goals, building self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment. A climbing wall also encourages social interaction as children share route ideas and shout encouragement to each climber while waiting for their turn. These climbing structures provide a holistic and engaging play experience that contributes to children's overall growth and well-being.

We continue our safety series on some of the dangers to look out for in a playground – in part 1 we discussed swing safety . This month, we focus on slide safety. Slides are safe if they are used correctly. Here are some guidelines to keep your children safe: When climbing the ladder to the top of the slide, children should take one step at a time and hold onto the handrail. Do not allow children to climb up the sliding board itself to get to the top. Allow only one child to be at the top of the slide at a time Kids should always check that the bottom of the slide is clear before sliding down. Always slide down feet-first and sitting up, never headfirst or on their back or stomach. Do not allow children to slide down in groups. When children reach the bottom, they should get off and move away from the end of the slide as quickly as possible so it's clear for other children to slide down. Look out for the next in the SAFETY SERIES: Climbing Safety

Thank you to Coral Beach Estate for choosing a Rustics Jungle Gym for your playground. ...and the best part? The Coral Beach Estate children are absolutely thrilled with it! “From beginning to end, I found Toni and her team to be very friendly, professional, prompt and efficient. It was an absolute pleasure dealing with the Rustics team. “The workmanship was of high standard. It is evident that your staff take pride in their work. It’s not common to find a company that sticks to their promises and provides an all round good / hassle free experience. “The children have already made extensive use of the Jungle Gym and they absolutely love it! “I would most definitely recommend Rustics.” Anonymous donor

The FUNtastic range is fun, colourful and built with safety and durability in mind. Choose the number of platforms and add a wide variety of slides, (spiral, single or double straight or a chute). Add swings (flat seat or boat swing), a dedicated climbing area with climbing hooks, different characters, interactive features, seesaws and springy animal rockers and together we will create a playground to encourage fitness, imagination and adventure.

At Rustics, we are all about safety! In this first part of our series about playground safety, we focus on swing safety. Swings are the most common source of childhood injuries from moving equipment on a playground. A few simple precautions can help keep kids safely swinging: Children should stay a safe distance from other kids on swings, being careful not to run or walk in front of or behind moving swings. Swings should be made of soft material such as rubber or plastic, not wood or metal. Kids should always sit in the swing, not stand or kneel. Always hold on tightly with both hands while swinging, When finished swinging, make sure that the swing stops completely before getting off. Swings are designed to safely hold only one person. Never allow more than one child on a single swing, unless it is specifically designed for more than one child. Look out for the next in the SAFETY SERIES: Slide Safety

The staff and children at Laerskool Malelane were very excited to receive the latest addition to their playground – a Rustics Tarantula Play System. Don’t believe us! Take a look at their video – even the staff are playing! The Tarantula is our flagship play system. Manufactured from 101mm mild steel tubing, it is one of the strongest and most durable play systems currently available and will last substantially longer than any other play system.    The Tarantula also accommodates more children per square meter than any other playground system, making it perfect for schools, housing complexes and shopping centres.   “We chose the Tarantula because it is specifically designed to improve basic motor skills, build upper and lower body muscles, improve balance and hand-eye co-ordination, as well as helping the children to develop social and spatial awareness skills.     “Thank you to Rustic Jungle Gyms for setting it up and ensuring that both our learners (and teachers) are safe and ready to enjoy wonderful playtime!   The learners are having a blast!”

We have discussed obesity before, but it seems that there is a still a huge problem in South Africa with overweight adolescents and adults. It is our responsibility, as adults, to teach our children healthy habits while they are still young and receptive to the lessons. Teach them to make healthy eating choices, to get out in the fresh air and play, run, walk, throw a ball, and you will be creating lifelong healthy habits. Healthy choices challenge for 2025! Here are a few choices which will set you and the children onto a healthier path – are you ready to rake on the challenge? Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. Don’t like the taste? Squeeze fresh lemon or lime juice in it. Don’t drink hot or cold beverages with sugar or artificial sweeteners. Don’t skip a meal. Eat regular-sized breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. For at least one meal every day, eat only food with ingredients you know the origin of or could grow or raise yourself. ie foods that have been minimally altered from their natural state and have no added ingredients for example fish, fruits, vegetables, eggs, nuts, grains, beans/lentils, milk, oils, herbs and spices, tea/coffee Take a family walk around the neighbourhood every day. Go outside to play, ride a bike, throw a ball, or go for a swim. Decide to have a screen-free night at least once a week and use the time to do something active. By making small changes now, your whole family can move towards a healthier future.

Just 30 minutes outside in the sun can produce enough Vitamin D and a host of hormones and chemicals to improve your health and that of your family. Play on a jungle gym while you’re outside with your children and benefit from physical exercise too! Improve sleep and reduce stress: Research indicates that an hour of natural light in the morning will help you sleep better. Sunshine regulates your circadian rhythm by telling your body when to increase and decrease melatonin levels. Melatonin is the hormone which affects your ability to sleep. Melatonin also lowers stress reactivity which can help reduce your stress level. Strengthen your immune system: Vitamin D is also critical for your immune system, and with consistent exposure to sunlight, you can help strengthen it. Fight off depression: Sunshine boosts your body’s level of serotonin, which is a chemical that improves your mood and helps you stay calm and focused. Strengthen your bones: Vitamin D helps your body maintain calcium and prevents brittle, thin, or misshapen bones. Vitamin D isn’t in many of our foods but one of the best (and easiest) ways to get vitamin D is by being outside. Our bodies produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight for as little as five minutes. Live longer? Maybe. A study that followed 30,000 Swedish women revealed that those who spent more time in the sun lived six months to two years longer than those with less sun exposure. Get a jungle gym and create opportunities to play outside with your children!

While play is crucial for a child’s development, it is also beneficial for people of all ages. Play can add joy to life, relieve stress, supercharge learning, and build healthy relationships. Play can also make work more productive and pleasurable – think modern IT companies. As well as aiding your child’s development, play can also bring you closer together and strengthen the adult-child bond that will last a lifetime. How to play with children • Establish regular play times. This way it will not be easily overlooked and will become a healthy habit • Give your child your undivided attention. Turn off the TV and your cell phone and make time to play with your child without distraction. Having your undivided attention makes a child feel special. • Get down to the child’s level. That may mean getting down on your knees or sitting on the floor. Match your child’s intensity during play—if the child is loud and energetic, be loud and energetic, too. • Embrace repetition. Children learn through repetition. Be prepared to play the same game over and over. The child will move on when he or she is ready. • Let children take the lead. Become part of their game rather than trying to dictate the play. Let the children call the shots, make the rules, and determine the pace of play. Ask questions and follow along—you’ll likely get drawn into imaginative new worlds that are fun for you, too. • Don’t force play or try to prolong a game. The best way to teach a new skill is to show children how something works, then step back and give them a chance to try it. When the child grows tired of an activity, it’s time to move on to something new. • Make play age-appropriate. If a game is too hard or too easy, it loses its sense of pleasure and fun. Help your child find age-appropriate activities and understand any safety rules for play. Playing with children is not only excellent for their development, but it will also benefit you - it will tighten the bond between you and boost your energy and vitality – all helping you both to function at your best.

Jungle Gyms consist of heights, angled slides, swings and balance beams all of which offer opportunities to teach science concepts in a more fun and engaging way - taking science outside. Gravity Activity: Drop different objects from the top and from half way up the jungle gym (e.g., a feather, a ball, a rock a balloon, a crayon, a pom pom, a crumpled piece of paper, and a golf ball.) Explain why they all fall and why some fall faster than others Discussion: Talk about how gravity pulls objects down and how height affects the speed of descent. You can also discuss the concept of weight. Balance and Center of Mass Activity: Ask children to walk on a balance beam while carrying a lightweight object (like a balloon) and discuss what they had to do to stay balanced. Discussion: Explain the concept of the center of mass and how it varies based on body position and the distribution of weight. Measurement and Angles Activity: Use a measuring tape to measure the height of the jungle gym or the distance between different pieces of equipment. Discussion: Introduce concepts of area and volume by discussing the space occupied by different structures. Explore angles using the slides and climbing walls. Temperature and Environment Activity: Use a thermometer to measure temperature in the shade vs. direct sunlight. Discussion: Talk about the impact of sunlight and shade on temperature By integrating these science concepts into active play, you can create a dynamic learning environment that fosters curiosity and exploration!

We LOVE our ship! Johanna Beukman, Head of Pre-Primary, Lilyfontein School Lilyfontein School Pre-Primary was looking to replace their existing train-inspired climbing apparatus with equipment which would also inspire fantasy play, while offering a safe space to encourage risky play. Johanna says, “We wanted a structure that would develop gross motor abilities, coordination and balance while at the same time allowing the staff see through it so we can monitor the children while they explore. The Rustics Jungle Gyms ship was the perfect solution. “The advice from the Rustics team was spot on and their planning and installation were conducted in a timeous and professional manner.” “ We feel that we got a high quality product and value for our money.” “Our children cannot wait for outside playtime - we even made some play-time changes to give them more time to ‘cruise’!” “We cannot wait to do business with you again.”