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We all know that we need to exercise to stay healthy – check out our previous newsletter which describes the amount of exercise each age-level should get on a daily basis. You may know you need to exercise and get your family active, but are you struggling to motivate yourself to get going? There are so many options and there are VERY FEW VALID EXCUSES for not putting your health first and getting out there. Are any of these your excuse? It’s boring or I just don't fancy it Use your imagination and think out of the box – you don’t have to go running or to the gym to be exercising! If it’s not done sitting and it elevates your heart rate, it’s exercise! Here are a few ideas: Brisk walks while listening to music, Cycling Dancing Obstacle racing Gardening Skate-boarding, roller skating Playing catch with the kids Doing agility with your family dog Don’t like to do it alone? Find a local boot camp, yoga class, or dance team to get group dynamics and encouragement. I don't have time Are you being honest with yourself? If you spend 30 minutes watching TV or playing video games at night you have time for exercise. Sitting at a desk all day, whether in school or at work does not need to be followed by sitting in the evening. Find the time to get active; it’s always worth it. I'm too tired Working out actually gives you energy as your body produces endorphins and circulation is increased. Experiment with different times of the day. It might make sense to get up 30 minutes earlier and start your day with exercise to increase productivity throughout the day. Remember, your daily exercise does not need to be all at once to be beneficial. I can't leave the kids alone Take them with you! Go out into the garden and play on the RUSTICS jungle gym, play ball or chasing games. Exercising with your children will reinforce the importance of exercise, create fun memories that they are likely to emulate when they become parents, and instil exercise as a regular behaviour. It just doesn't work for me! The key is to make it FUN so the behaviour is repeated. Don't give up if it doesn’t seem like fun to start with! Give it time. Behaviours aren’t changed overnight, and it may take several weeks before the activity feels enjoyable or part of your routine. No matter what our age, we all benefit from exercise. Without it, we are adversely affecting our health, our long-term ability to move independently, and our children’s ability to balance healthy activity with sedentary behaviour. Call it PLAY, call it EXERCISE, call it FUN, call it whatever you like, but make sure you make time with your family to get active. Your very lives depend on it! Rustics Jungle Gyms has just the right outdoor play equipment to get you and your family exercising and improving your health!

Yes, simply being outdoors in nature can keep those happy-hormones flowing. How does spending time outdoors make us happier, stronger and less stressed? The outdoors is a great source of vitamin D Being out in the sun exposes you to sunlight, which your skin uses to make vitamin D as a nutrient for your body. Vitamin D can help improve your immune system, make your bones stronger and lower your risk of developing diseases and various types of cancer. The Outdoors can be the calm after the storm “Moving your body and being outside in nature can help your body to recover after stressful events in your life,” says psychiatrist, Patrick Kane, M.D. Being in nature can reduce cortisol levels and muscle tension. Maybe we all need a bit of this after the stress of the Rugby World Cup Final! The outdoors will help you sleep like a baby Our circadian rhythm, also known as our internal clock, regulates how our body functions, and research supports that it is directly affected by how much sunlight you are exposed to. Bright light during the day will help you feel more alert and awake and can help you fall asleep easier and feel more tired at night. Can help with feelings of depression Research suggests that exposure to sunlight impacts your body’s serotonin levels – a chemical that plays a vital role in your mood. Getting regular exposure to daylight can help raise your spirits and improve your focus. The Outdoors strengthens family bonds Every family member needs to let loose and have fun, so why not do it together? Parents are the ultimate role models, and you can show your kids the importance of finding joy in the outdoors. Savour the moments together while reaping all the other benefits. “Just a 50-minutes in nature can improve your attention and concentration, [and] your working memory by about 20%.” Marc Berman, associate professor of psychology at the University of Chicago Rustics Jungle Gyms has just the right equipment to get you and your family outdoors check it out here

All budgets are getting stretched further and further in today’s economic climate, and it’s no different for schools, churches, home owner associations and other communities. In a previous newsletter, we suggested some FUN fund raising ideas to help raise funds for a playground upgrade - here are a few more to ease the strain on your budget. Sell something to your stakeholders Buy a shopping bag and print the handprints and names of all the children in the phase or do a calendar of photographs of activities the community has taken part in. Sell something to the public Products - bottled water at a local running/sport event, home-made Christmas biscuits or popcorn at a Christmas market. Offer a service - gift-wrapping or car washing at a local shopping centre Entertain people Theatre performance – arrange your own performance using your own people or invite a local personality to perform at the local theatre and sell the tickets. They might even run an ad for your project on their social media. The key to any successful fundraising initiative is promotion! Promote via school and local business organisation newsletters Ask the local paper or radio station to do an interview or send them a short write up – this should be free Use your Facebook and website pages (or create new ones especially for your activity) and other social media platforms Give yourself enough time to plan and above all promote like there’s no tomorrow! Good luck with your fundraising initiatives and check out our playground systems when you have the funds for your new playground!

Merrifield School wanted to build a "hideaway in the trees" - a little escape area for their Grade 3 learners to chill, eat lunch, read and work. "Toni’s guidance during the design phase was wonderful, she quickly understood what we wanted and after our discussion, provided a layout of what was agreed. "Together we have created a relaxing and cool space that feels like being in a treehouse. "The children LOVE it. They want to be in the jungle gym whenever possible and are always asking if they can go there to complete their work. "I would definitely recommend Rustics Jungle Gyms, their service was amazing. They were fast, reliable and friendly. " Tegan Hoole - Grade 3 teacher

There are huge benefits to be gained from climbing. Most children start climbing when they are toddlers - in fact, this is a very stressful time for most parents, because you just can't stop them climbing - out of cots or onto the top of the sofa or the windowsill. There are many physical and mental benefits of climbing so it is important to encourage it in our children of all ages. Rustics Jungle Gyms has just the right equipment to get your children climbing - whatever their age! Send us an email and we can show you more!

Climbing is a risky play activity but the many, many benefits for children of all ages, easily balance any risks. Here are a 10 of those benefits. Climbing: 1. is an excellent gross motor activity for physical strength and development.(see our series of articles on Physical Development) 2. teaches risk assessment skills 3. teaches concentration and how to execute a multi-step plan while staying focused. 4. boosts self-confidence and self-esteem – teaches them how to think for themselves and feel confident about their choices. ‘I made it!’ 5. builds flexibility in body and mind. 6. develops more complex neural networks in the brain. As they move the left side of their body, the right part of their brain lights up with activity; as they move the right side, the left side lights up—and using both sides at once to climb helps forge connections between the two. 7. develops a resilient “I can do it” attitude. 8. develops problem solving, decision making and strong spatial reasoning skills as they determine hand and foot placement and work out the best climbing route 9. provides lots of feedback about where their body is in space, teaching prioception or kinaesthesia. 10. gives a great view!

We know that there are many benefits of getting children outside and physically active but Sometimes, they just need a bit of encouragement to get them started. Here are a few playground games to inspire them to go outside and get the most out of their playground. Be warned - when you get them outside and engaged, you may struggle to get them back inside! Follow the leader Following the leader not only keeps children physically active but teaches them to mimic and perform actions. The ‘leader’ must move around the jungle gym by running, hanging, climbing, or swinging, alternating their movements and performing different actions that the other players must mimic. Red Light, Green Light This game challenges listening and reaction time. One player, the traffic light, stands at the one end of the jungle gym, with the other players on the other end. Their goal is to get to the traffic light, but they can only move when the light is green ie the person is facing away from the group. When the traffic light turns around and says “red light!”, all players must stand still. If someone is caught moving, they have to go back to the beginning. The Floor is Lava Inspiring imagination, by pretending the floor is lava, children must move between activities on the jungle gym without touching the floor. One of the hardest parts of being a parent is getting your children away from enticing computer screens and into the outdoors, we hope using these games you will succeed in giving them the benefits of outdoor exercise You could even take your fitness routine outside and play with them! See our previous story on jungle gyms and adult fitness.

Physical activity boosts blood flow all over the body, including to the brain. Which results in better thinking skills. Studies show that people who exercise more are sharper mentally. The effects may be almost immediate. One study found that kids scored higher on math and reading comprehension tests after exercising for 20 minutes. But, according to April Bowling, assistant professor at Merrimack College, “Exercise doesn’t only increase blood flow, aerobic exercise also seems to change where the brain directs its resources, from areas of the brain that are involved in worrying, for example, and toward areas that are more involved in coordination and focus. “Secondly, aerobic exercise can change brain chemistry, and specifically the levels of certain neurotransmitters that might help improve an individual’s self-regulation. When mood and self-regulation — the ability to control behaviour — is improved, then children can function better in the classroom.” Get a Jungle Gym to get your children exercising!

Sometimes relocation of a jungle gym is unavoidable – maybe you are moving house or, you are redesigning your playground to add new and exciting activities. When deciding what to move and how, it is essential to use a qualified installer. Any outside playground equipment is not only affected by use, but also by the environment in which it is installed and will degrade over time. Before dismantling playground equipment it is essential to draw up a site plan showing how it was installed and how much space it requires, including instructions and drawings of how it should be assembled. The equipment should be carefully dismantled by someone who is experienced in the installation of playground equipment. Only someone with experience will recognise any dangerous degradation of the fixtures, fittings and building materials. Volunteers or inexperienced workers may have the best intentions but without the prerequisite knowledge may end up rebuilding a playground which is unsafe. If there are some parts of your jungle gym needing to be replaced, how do you decide if it is worth the expense of upgrading or if it should be completely replaced? We find that if the cost of the repairs is equal to or exceeds one-half of the original cost of the equipment it is probably a good choice financially to consider replacing the entire unit. Installing playground equipment requires skill and experience. Without consistency in the installation, a structure can be compromised in any number of areas: strength, mobility, safety and durability, to name a few. From concrete footings, to posts and clamps, to the very last bolt tightened, the expertise of the installation team determines the success of a playground installation. Once the equipment is reinstalled at the new location, it is essential to continue with regular inspections of your playground to ensure that it is still safe. Read this maintenance checklist. Contact us if you need to move a jungle gym - we have been installing jungle gyms since 2006 and we can do it safely!

In the final part of our 5 part series discussing the physical benefits for children of playing on a jungle gym - we continue with the benefits of developing flexibility and joint health and what equipment is best for its development. It is important to keep the body moving so that muscles stay flexible and joints have a wide range of motion. This not only aids in athletic ability but reduces risk of injury. When your kids spend all day seated, it results in stiff muscles that can become easily sore. This makes exercise difficult and painful. The best way to gain flexibility and increase blood flow is to use all muscles and joints regularly. A jungle gym provides a fun way to get your children off the couch and outside. While climbing, crawling, sliding, and swinging, their bodies will enjoy the benefits of activity. Muscles will strengthen and develop, joints will loosen, and flexibility and coordination will improve. Get a jungle gym to improve flexibility and joint health Contact us if you have would like a playground designed to develop flexibility and joint health.

In this edition we present part 4 of a 5 part series discussing the physical benefits for children of playing on a jungle gym - we continue with the benefits of developing gross motor skills and what equipment is best for its development. Gross motor skills require whole body movement and involve the large (core stabilising) muscles of the body to perform everyday functions. Gros motor skills are required for standing and walking, running and jumping, and sitting upright at the table. They also impact on eye-hand coordination skills such as ball throwing, catching and kicking or riding a bike. A lack of gross motor skills will result in difficulties with dressing (where you need to be able to stand on one leg to put your leg into a pant leg without falling over) and climbing into and out of a car or even getting into and out of bed. They can also affect the ability to maintain appropriate table-top posture which will affect a child’s ability to sit upright to attend to class instruction and interestingly will affect their ability to participate in fine motor skills (e.g. writing, drawing and cutting) and hence will impact on academic learning. The large muscles of the body are developed in early childhood – mostly through play. Many of the activities that children enjoy on the playground use and improve gross motor skills. Get a Jungle Gym and improve gross motor skills. Playground equipment to develop core strength Climbing frames and climbing walls require whole-body engagement. The upper body is used to reach for the next handhold and the lower body is used to push up to the next step. Monkey bars and rings utilise the upper body to stay off the ground and also improve coordination and balance. Slides engage the lower body in order to climb to the top of the slide and require the upper body and vestibular system to hold the head upright when going down the slide. Swinging – coordinating the movement of arms legs and trunk to keep the swing in motion will develop gross motor skills Balance beams – require strength in the whole body to retain balance while moving forward along the beam. Tunnels - Crawling through tunnels is good for developing a sense of the body and its position. Take a look at the Rustics Jungle Gyms Tarantula playsystem in action Contact us if you have would like a playground design to develop core strength

Upper body strength is not just for bodybuilders at the gym—it is important for a child’s coordination and posture. Many children have poor posture due to excessive screen time which puts undue strain on the neck and spine. Developing these muscles also makes activities of daily life easier, such as pulling, lifting, and carrying. Benefits of Upper body strength It improves overall health: Strength training of any kind can help kids maintain a healthy weight, cholesterol and blood pressure levels. It boosts bone strength: The bones grow fastest during childhood and adolescence. Building bone strength during these phases of growth helps reduce the risk of bone loss later in life. Plus, strong bones help children avoid injuries. It improves coordination: Many activities that help children build upper body strength can also help them develop their gross and fine motor skills. Climbing or moving across the monkey bars, for example, can increase coordination. Improved coordination can help children perform better in sports and in everyday tasks. It improves posture: Strengthening upper back and shoulder muscles can help children maintain better posture and help their spine develop properly. Improper posture can put undue strain on muscles, joints, ligaments, and bones. It boosts athleticism: Throwing a ball, swinging a bat, or swimming across the pool all require upper body strength. It raises self-confidence: When children have good upper body strength, they will be able to throw a ball further or faster than a child who hasn’t. This self-esteem boost can filter into other areas of a child’s life, helping them feel more self-assured in the classroom or social situations. Playground equipment to develop upper body strength Monkey Bars, Monkey Rings and climbing frames Monkey bars, rings and climbing frames use body weight to build strength, grip strength and flexibility and target different muscle groups. Gecko Grip Climbing Wall, Ramp Climber Climbing walls offer an exceptional full-body workout but are especially good for arm strength. Best of all? Children are often too busy having fun to realise how much work they’re putting into it. Rung ladder and Arched monkey bars Climbing ladders and arched monkey bars are an excellent way to work the upper body and core Pull-Up Bar Pullups also work multiple muscle groups but are excellent for building upper body strength. Cargo Net Climbing a cargo net successfully requires children to lift and control their own body weight. Getting to the top of the net without slipping through one of the openings also requires good hand-eye coordination. Contact us if you have would like a playground design to develop upper body strength