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How does playing on slides help with child development?

The slide happens to be the favorite plaything for my kids in the playground. Whenever they visit one, taking a couple of rides through the slide is a must for them. Playing on the slide actually has a number of benefits that children have in their development. No wonder why they are all naturally attracted to slides.

• Promoting Balance

In order to go down the slide, children first have to climb up the ladder. Then, they have to sit steadily at a height in order to slide down smoothly without falling to either side. This strengthens a child’s balance to navigate around his/her surroundings.

• Increasing Strength and Flexibility

When children are younger, most of them are only able to climb up to smaller slides. But as time progresses, they become physically stronger and more flexible so as to climb up to larger ones. This strength and flexibility that they gain over time from playing on slides, prevent injuries and gives them more confidence in physical activities.

• Developing Social Skills

Playgrounds are a place that is full of kids. Hence, it is likely that your child will run into a couple of other children on every visit. Indeed, playgrounds are like social hubs for children that provide them with an opportunity to develop their social skills by interacting with other children. My children, for instance, have developed a lot of empathy, patience, and awareness for others. They would often wait for their turn, and would usually let someone else go first only for the sake of it.

• Increases Grip Strength

As students grab the ladder rungs and the sides of a slide while sliding down, their grip strength increases and their forearm muscles become more toned. As a result of this, they are able to hold doorknobs, pencils, and other tools with a good grip.

• Boosts Spatial Awareness

When my daughter was younger, she would almost always fall off the end of the slide on her back. Since the slide was fixed on top of a grassy ground, she would not get hurt. But as time progressed, she learned that she needs to put her feet on the ground right before landing. This way slides help toddlers with their spatial awareness.

• Increases Coordination

In order to climb up the ladder of the slides, children have to make use of their eyes, feet, hands, and legs altogether. This helps a lot in the development of body coordination in young kids.

• Reduces Obesity

Children often tend to have lower metabolic rates. That combined with their diet, they often develop obesity. Hence it is important for children to have some amount of physical activity in a day. At least 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity helps them in maintaining a healthy weight. However, make sure that they do not get themselves exhausted and stay hydrated throughout the day.

So the next time you see your toddlers playing around on the slide, you can sit back and relax knowing that it is a very healthy activity. Do however keep an eye on them so that they do not hurt themselves.

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