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When sitting, the neck and back muscles need to work to keep the head and trunk steady. These muscles make it possible to sit still and quietly for extended periods of time. These muscles are called on to work even harder when one or both arms are moved for instance, when holding a book, writing or completing other desk tasks. Try these exercises to assess a child’s core strength and control and hence their ability to take part in, and absorb, what is being taught in the classroom. EXERCISE 1 Ask the child to sit erect on a stool with the hips and knees flexed to 90 degrees. Count to 60 slowly. Top Tip: count with the child, vary your tone and pull faces to keep the child interested and alert. EXERCISE 2 Ask the child to sit erect on a stool with the hips and knees flexed to 90 degrees. Ask the child to lift the arms forwards to level with the shoulders, and to stay in this position. Count to 30 slowly. Read more here

Playing is critical to your child's development and playgrounds offer a variety of equipment such as swings, slides and monkey bars that your child can use to grow and develop their physical and problem-solving skills. Outdoor play equipment can however have the potential to be dangerous if it is not properly maintained and managed. In addition to ensuring that all regular equipment checks are carried out (see our previous blog (Checklist for Jungle Gym Safety), there are other factors which we need to take into account to keep our little ones safe in the playground: Proper Dress Make sure that there are no loose items of clothing such as necklaces, bags, watches, and scarves and tuck in clothing drawstrings and cords that can get caught on playing equipment and result in entanglement causing a strangulation accident or a fall. Jungle gym surrounds Check the area around the jungle gym for anything dangerous or harmful, such as broken glass, and other objects such as backpacks, lunch boxes etc. that children can trip on or injure themselves on while running around. It can reduce the severity of falls if you surround your jungle gym with a shock-absorbing Surface such as sand, synthetic turf, wood chips or mulch. Use only age-appropriate playground equipment Children should only play on equipment that’s suitable for their size (weight and height), motor skills and muscle strength. Make sure children know which equipment they can and can’t use. Children younger than age 5 may not have the upper-body strength necessary for climbing and should only be allowed to climb 1.5m high and school-age kids should only climb 2.1m. Teach safe equipment usage and behaviour It is important to demonstrate how to safely use equipment – especially moving equipment like swings. Teach them: to slide feet first not to climb outside guardrails to use two hands when climbing to be aware of where other people are to avoid collisions to always sit on swings and never put more than one person on the swing at a time to stop a swing completely before climbing off to look out for other people before jumping down, starting to swing or sliding to always slide down feet first and sitting up, never head first on their back or stomach to not climb up the slide itself to only have one person at a time, on the slide platform and the slide to check for a person on the slide before they slide down and to move away quickly afterwards Encourage good manners and explain taking turns and sharing. Teach them not to shove, push or overcrowd equipment because that too can lead to accidents. Actively Supervise Over 40% of all playground accidents occur when a child is not under supervision. Whether in your garden or in the school-ground, children need to be actively supervised when climbing, swinging, or jumping to keep them away from accidents. Pre-schoolers are prone to testing their abilities beyond their boundaries and must be always be supervised on playground equipment. Be Mindful of the Weather Put sunscreen on children every day to prevent painful and harmful sunburn and test the temperature of the swings and slides to ensure that they are not too hot to the touch. Teach them not to use wet equipment as steps of slides and platforms could become slippery. Understanding how to play safely and how to be kind while playing will help your children to develop great skills that they will use throughout life.

The foundational strength children (and adults) need is core strength. It is the platform upon which all other strengths are built. Sadly, children’s core strength is declining as they spend less time on outdoor play. Physical activity takes practice. Children who don’t build strength through physical play will lose confidence and sit out while their peers play and grow stronger, causing a bigger gap between the active and sedentary child. When the core is weak, it is hard to sit still; a child will wriggle and change positions often to get comfortable. All this movement makes it hard to listen to the teacher or complete a task. Often a child who is fidgeting and distracted is simply not strong enough to sit at a desk. A strong core means smooth movement and controlled appendages, affecting both gross motor play skills and fine motor classroom skills. On the playground, core strength allows the arms and legs to move freely for running, jumping, climbing, and skipping. In the classroom, core strength allows children to support their torsos, freeing their hands to work on cutting, writing, colouring, and building. Core strength means children can hold their heads still to read a book or write. They also need core strength to sit comfortably at a desk and attend to a task. How to address the lack of core strength in our children We need to provide opportunities for big body physical play and there is nowhere better than an outdoor playground which provides opportunities to: swing climb cross the monkey bars go up the slide crawl through a tunnel and jump on, off, and over something. By building core strength, we will help build a child’s confidence in their physicality, leading to a continued desire to move, and breaking the cycle of inactivity. Increased activity and gross motor movement lead to an improved ability to attend, focus and LEARN, helping children gain confidence on the playground, in the classroom, and in life.

Key facts around physical exercise as presented by the World Health Organisation : Physical activity has significant health benefits for hearts, bodies and minds Physical activity contributes to preventing and managing noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes Physical activity reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety Physical activity enhances thinking, learning, and judgment skills Physical activity ensures healthy growth and development in young people Physical activity improves overall well-being Globally, 1 in 4 adults do not meet the global recommended levels of physical activity Up to 5 million deaths a year could be averted if the global population was more active People who are insufficiently active have a 20% to 30% increased risk of death compared to people who are sufficiently active More than 80% of the world's adolescent population is insufficiently physically active Children should be participating in a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Having a playground that engages them can make getting those 60 minutes of exercise easier and more FUN! WHO physical activity recommendations in a 24-hour day: Infants (less than 1 year) should be physically active several times a day in a variety of ways, particularly through interactive floor-based play and should be unrestrained for more than 1 hour at a time (e.g., prams/strollers, high chairs, or strapped on a caregiver’s back) Children 1-2 years of age should spend at least 180 minutes in a variety of types of physical activities at any intensity, including moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, spread throughout the day; more is better. Children 3-4 years of age should spend at least 180 minutes in a variety of types of physical activities at any intensity, of which at least 60 minutes is moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity, spread throughout the day; more is better Children and adolescents aged 5-17 years should do at least an average of 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous intensity, mostly aerobic, physical activity, across the week. should incorporate vigorous-intensity aerobic activities, as well as those that strengthen muscle and bone, at least 3 days a week. GET PHYSICAL - order your Jungle Gym today

"I recently had the pleasure of working with Toni Hayward of Rustics Jungle Gyms. After calling more than one local supplier of jungle gyms, Toni was the only person to make the meeting. I found Toni to be very professional in her approach to our needs. We didn't want a standard installation as our daughter is older than the usual jungle gym user. We wanted a course that would suit my very active child and challenge her mentally and physically as well as look good in our property. She gave great advice and was flexible in her suggestions. Toni was happy to do site visits and her service was quick. I had been toying with this idea for over a year and Rustics made it all come to life in under two weeks from making the decision! The workmanship is top-class and the installation was neat, tidy and fuss-free. Toni did an inspection on completion and we are extremely happy with the end result. I would have no hesitation at all in recommending Rustics Jungle Gyms - East London's best kept secret for active children!" Lyndré Marais-Meyer We wanted a course that would suit my very active child and challenge her mentally and physically as well as look good in our property. Toni gave great advice and was flexible in her suggestions.

Carol Colburne chose to remember her late mother Lynn, by installing a Rustics Jungle Gym at the New Beginnings Day-care Centre in Southernwood, a Rotary project to which Lynn had dedicated much of her time. Carol says, “We are all in agreement that this is a wonderful way to remember my mother. She lived life well and had a passion for children of all ages....from babies to those in their second childhood! I share her belief that we need to start better education as early as possible and this Jungle Gym is our way of continuing to contribute in a small way, while celebrating the dedication of my Mother to pre-school education. As my mother would say, ‘Forget fees must fall. Educate our pre-school children!’ Thank you, Rustics Jungle Gyms, for installing the jungle gym so quickly and professionally.” “The children absolutely love the Jungle Gym – so much so, that the staff are able to use it as a reward for good work and good behaviour. The strenuous outdoor play is also helping to exhaust the children so that when quiet time arrives, they are all more than ready to settle down for a nap. The improvement in the behaviour of our children is noticeable since the jungle gym was installed.” Mercy Samente-Mensah, owner/principal of the New Beginnings Day Care

In her article in Parenting Science, Gwen Dewar, Ph.D outlines 12 benefits of outdoor play and provides tips to help your child get them. Many of the benefits she highlights do not require anything more than space and a willingness to go out to play. But at least five of them are enhanced by the use of outdoor playground equipment (see highlights below). A jungle gym for your home, school or community does not need to be expensive and the benefits are unmistakable for the development of children. 12 benefits of outdoor play click on this link to read more about each and learn how to help the children in your care access those benefits Outdoor play can reduce a child’s risk of becoming near-sighted. Outdoor play helps ensure that kids get enough sunlight -- and that's good for their bodies and brains. Kids get more vigorous exercise when they’re outdoors. Outdoor play provides kids with greater freedom to develop their athletic abilities – to run fast, jump far, and climb. Outdoor play offers young children special opportunities learn new words and concepts. .When kids play in green spaces, they reap special psychological benefits, including better recovery from stress, and enhanced concentration. Connecting with nature may also lower a child’s risk of behavior problems. Cooperative outdoor play can help children learn social skills Positive nature experiences teach children to respect -- and protect -- the environment. Wrestling with sleep troubles? Outdoor play doesn't make kids sleep longer at night. But it may help children fall asleep more easily. Outdoor play may encourage kids to take calculated risks – and become more confident in their abilities. By itself, outdoor time probably doesn't prevent obesity -- but it's a good first step toward a more active, healthful lifestyle! Who wouldn’t want those benefits for their children? Invest in a jungle gym to create more outdoor play opportunities.

Jason first made contact with the Rustics team on Tuesday and by Friday he had a brand new Jungle Gym installed in his garden. He became his children's hero over the course of just a few days! If you would like to be a hero in the life of the children in your care, give us a call on 043 748 5880 or drop us an email

The Windfarm service station, located on the N2 between Port Elizabeth and Jeffrey’s Bay, claims to be different from any other fuel retailer in the country. It has been designed to cater to the needs of the literally millions of travellers they have served and listened to over the years - they have indeed created a very special place. In addition to the coffee shop, convenience store, Shell petrol station and fast food restaurant they have made a real effort to cater to the needs of the whole family by including a Tarantula Play System from Rustics Jungle Gyms. They are also be the first rest and service facility with both a flow and pump track for cycling. “We chose the Tarantula because it is sturdy and looks like fun – I would certainly recommend it for all organisations who want to entertain a lot of kids at the same time. The Rustics team were great - Toni helped us at the end of the year when almost all the manufacturers were closed. The response on our queries was fast and informative.” Rhonwen Steyn of Infrastructure Consulting Engineers, Project Manager for the consultant design team of The Windfarm “The Rustics installation team worked well alongside the construction team on site. They were experienced; each member knew his role and worked independently. I would also like to commend their team leader who has good communication skills and was easy to work with - all feedback during installation was received and acted upon with a positive attitude.” According to Josua van Niekerk Construction Manager at Aggregate Construction for The Windfarm project, “The play area looks very good. I haven’t tried playing on it myself yet but looking at the kids playing there, it seems to be a winner.” Carel Bakkes, Director of The Windfarm

Here are a few that our internet research presented. If there’s nothing here that sparks an idea, do another search – there are hundreds of ideas out there and there is sure to be one that ignites the fire! Apply to the Sport & Recreation Sector of the National Lottery (https://www.nlcsa.org.za/sport-and-recreation/)/ They issue a list of priority funding areas each year which inform where funds will be directed to for that year. The sector is committed to “Provide sports and recreation facilities that are accessible to communities”. A Tarantula is a piece of sports equipment and fits neatly into this funding category. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Apply to a bank or other asset finance institution – The Tarantula can be marked with an asset number and can therefore be used as collateral against a loan supplied by your bank or other fund supplier. Criteria will depend on the institution, so give them a call and see if they are able to help Crowd Funding - Crowd funding is an internet-based financing method that involves getting many people to contribute a small amount each to fund a project. The key to success is finding a service provider who can help you formulate and enact an enticing campaign. An internet search will easily reveal local crowd funding service providers – look out for those with a charity section and international reach. US Dollars go a long way in South Africa! Hold events and activities to raise funds Host a team-based obstacle course or ‘Amazing Race’ type treasure hunt to get your community involved in your fund raising. This offers local businesses a great promotion opportunity. They will pay you to bring potential clients to their door and those that don’t offer a location on the treasure hunt will pay for their employees to take part as a teambuilding exercise. Host a 5km fun run in your area. Join up with a local running club – they will know what is required by the local authority to make this happen legally and safely. Offer a branded item (T-shirt/bandana/water bottle) to all entrants to encourage them to enter and get the costs covered through sponsorship by local companies Hold a Raffle - Get local businesses to donate vouchers and combine them to make an awesome raffle prize – this is especially good in tourist areas where you can put together a weekend-away package including food, accommodation and entertainment vouchers for the winners. Sell something at local markets – for example get items from your local farmers at discounted rates, bundle them together and sell them for a profit. A bag of mixed vegetables for R100. Obviously, what you sell, depends on what your local area produces Garage Sale - Host a community-wide garage sale. Ask churches, students, parents, and service providers to donate their well-preserved, second-hand items for the sale. 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 - we hope to hear from you soon!

The Stirling Fathers’ Club arranges monthly evening events at which fathers listen to informative presentations, socialise and develop a feeling of comradery. In addition to the social aspect, the Club’s objective is to assist the schools tangibly and visibly. To make this a possibility, they arrange fund raising events. This year, this included a Cansa Shavathon, an annual golf day, steak evenings, a Father’s Club Expo at which fathers displayed their companies and services, and a raffle. According to club Vice Chairman, Raymond Gower, “The funds raised are used to improve the school facilities and this year we elected to install a new Rustics jungle gym for the Grade R’s.”

All metal and wooden jungle gyms require regular maintenance to ensure their safety. We've put together the following programme to help you optimise the safety of your learners and the life of your jungle gym equipment. Monthly Safety checks Inspect the following elements of your jungle gym: Check the strength and integrity of any ropes : cargo nets, climbing ropes, rope bridges, tyre swing supports Check for any instability or wobbling of the structure Tighten all nuts and bolts, be sure to replace any that exhibit wear and tear Check wooden support poles and floorboards for dry and wet rot Dry Rot Dry rot destroys wood by eating away at parts within the wood which give the timber strength. This ultimately reduces the wood to a dry and crumbly state, causing it to weaken and rot. Dry rot is able to travel through building materials other than timber and quickly. Identification: Damaged Timber Concentrated Spore Dust Hyphae Mycelium Fruiting bodies Wet Rot Wet rot can be caused by a fungus and tends to remain in the damp area, rather than spreading like dry rot. In general, wet rot is a term used to describe many types of fungal species that can strike at any wood where moisture and dampness linger. Identification: ‘Cuboidal’ cracking Wet rot fungus Timber darkens or lightens in colour Existence of damp Localised decay Every 18 Months : Wooden units should be re-treated with Waxol or a similar product Every 24 Months : Metal units should be checked for rust. The pipes which rest on the ground tend to rust first due to rain or irrigation. Remove rust with a fine grit sandpaper. Apply an undercoat and, thereafter, any type of catalyst paint. Ask Rustics Jungle Gyms or your paint specialist to advise accordingly. Every 36 Months : We would recommend the repainting of the entire metal structure. Please do not remove all the paint. Remove only the rust affected areas with sandpaper. Apply an undercoat to the affected areas and then repaint the whole jungle gym with any type of catalyst paint. Please be aware that the outside appearance may be fine but there may be wear on the parts which cannot be seen, for example, bolts may be corroded inside the pole. With correct regular maintenance, the lifespan on wooden units is 10-12 years on the metal units is 20 years