Recreation inSites Blog

Category: Playground Solutions

Does Sacrificing Play In Schools Negatively Affect Learning?

Edmonton-School-BarsThere is a connection between children’s play, their health, and their academics. It makes sense, right? Exercise is a good thing. Social interaction is a good thing. Being physically active and healthy is a good thing. There’s no real debate here, it’s just common sense. Being physically healthy positively affects our capacity to learn. So it makes sense in this age of ever-increasing childhood obesity rates that physical health is particularly important for our children.

A new blog by Helle Burlingame looks at our schools, and the connection between physical and mental health. Are schools sacrificing children’s health to try to achieve academic goals? A better question might be “Does sacrificing play time in schools negatively affect academic achievement?” The good news is that schools are recognizing this important connection and changing their approach to learning and playing.

Read the full article here:
New Minds in the Making:
Motivating kids to commit to academic performance and personal health.

Recreation inSites understands the importance of play and how it affects learning in our children, and no playground equipment manufacturer is more focused on this than KOMPAN. To find out more about the physically and mentally challenging playground equipment KOMPAN offers, contact Melissa Guffey (Indiana) or Randee Norris (Kentucky) for more information!

Flip through the KOMPAN catalog below to get started!

Kompan To Present At ASLA In Chicago On November 6

If you’re going to be in Chicago between November 6-9 and interested in Kompan playground equipment, be sure to check them out at the ASLA Conference! Stop by Booth 1912 and meet some playground design experts, or attend the session “Psychology of Urban Play: The Human Dimension” on Friday, November 6 from 1:30 to 3:00. The panel introduces urban environments that encourage life-long play and includes Helle Burlingame, Manager of the KOMPAN Play Institute in North America.

If you can’t make it but are interested in finding out more about Kompan playground equipment, contact Melissa Guffey (Indiana) or Randee Norris (Kentucky) for more information!

 


ASLA Header

Basket Swing

Hartley Park Mount Vernon, NY

Psychology of Urban Play: The Human Dimension

As more people move to the cities, there are associated needs for environments that encourage social interaction, healthy lifestyles, and engaged minds—and not just for children. Play provides coping and creativity skills vital to us all.

Helle Burlingame, Manager of the KOMPAN Play Institute in North America, together with a panel of Planning and Design Experts, will introduce urban environments that encourage life-long play in the ASLA session, Psychology of Urban Play: The Human Dimension.

CO-PRESENTERS:

Joy Kuebler, ASLA

President, CEO Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, President New York Upstate Chapter ASLA, North Tonawanda, NY

Thomas R. Tavella, FASLA, LEED AP

Senior Design Associate, Alta Planning + Design, Orange, CT

James E. LaPosta Jr., FAIA

Principal/Chief Architectural Officer, JCJ Architecture, Hartford, CT

Join us on Friday, Nov 6 from 1:30pm – 3:00pm as we focus on the effect that urban environments have on families, seniors, and specifically children. How do we design life-long spaces that accommodate the trends found in diverse generations? The presenters will share examples of successful national and international play spaces and provide suggestions for incorporating elements into future urban planning projects.

 


The KOMPAN Design Studio invented cutting-edge urban play.

The KOMPAN Design Studio creates unique ‘playmazing landmarks’ using the latest innovations, the best technologies and the finest materials. Bringing together child development research, advanced technologies, and a network of engineers, designers and planners, the KOMPAN Design Studio develops unique play spaces that are fun and benefit multiple generations.

dad on slide

In the heart of Ottawa, Lansdowne Park offers fun for all ages. Learn more about the KOMPAN Design Studio.

 


designers

Meet Two of the Creative Minds Behind Some of the World’s Most Fascinating Playgrounds

Stop by Booth 1912 at the ASLA EXPO to meet Torsten Frank, Director of Product Development for KOMPAN Corocord Germany, and Tiffany Rodrigues, Head Designer – North America for the KOMPAN Design Studio. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions about an upcoming project you are working on, or view some of the incredible parks they have created around the world.

The Decline Of Play In Preschoolers – And The Rise In Sensory Issues

slide-3

At Recreation inSites, we firmly believe in the physical AND mental benefits of free play time for children (and adults!). A new post from pediatric occupational therapist Angela Hanscom takes a look at parental decisions to increase academic enrichment at the cost of physical activity and interactive play, and how that shift over the years has affected new generations.

Click To Read The Full Article

 

For more information about the KOMPAN playground products, or any of the products we offer in Indiana and Kentucky, contact Melissa Guffey at Recreation inSites at 317.201.7056 or email Melissa here.

Please flip through the KOMPAN catalog below and let us know how we can put your dream park together!

WISHTV.com Features New Westfield Playground!

Recreation inSites is so happy to have worked with the Westfield Parks & Recreation team to create their new “Smart Playgroud” at Simon Moon Park! Congratulations, and we know you’re community will enjoy it for many years to come.

The playground was recently featured by WISHTV.COM, and you can check out the video below to see how it works. To see more KOMPAN products or view the entire catalog online, visit our website and you’ll be amazed at what you could bring to your community!

“The new equipment is one of the first in Hamilton County,” said Melody Jones, Westfield Parks and Recreation Director. “This playground uses modern day technology and historic fairy tales to teach children the kinds of moral insights of which Hans Christian Anderson is known.”

For more information about the KOMPAN Smart Playground, or any of the products we offer in Indiana and Kentucky, contact Melissa Guffey at Recreation inSites at 317.201.7056 or email Melissa here, or flip through the KOMPAN catalog below and let us know how we can put your dream park together!

Study Recommends Children Be Active At Least 60 Minutes Per Day

One reason Recreation inSites loves KOMPAN Play Equipment is because they report on play research and practice relevant for teachers, recreation professionals, day care specialists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, environmental designers, and many others. They study the benefits of playground equipment, strategies for keeping kids healthy, inclusive play ideas and designs, how play supports education, and information on international approaches to keeping children happy and healthy. They recently featured this “recommended daily activity for children and youth” from the World Health Organization (WHO).

stats

When children engage with playmates in pretend play, social and emotional development takes place, and they come to understand concepts and problem solving when they identify, name, and discuss objects used in play.

Older kids practice their abilities in more sophisticated environments and take on more challenging play opportunities with peers involving rules negotiation, challenges, and, not least, laughter. Even parents and grandparents who find the time to play receive similar benefits, and they build memories that children will treasure for the rest of their lives.

For more information about KOMPAN Play Equipment, or any of the products we offer in Indiana and Kentucky, contact Melissa Guffey at Recreation inSites at 317.201.7056 or email Melissa here!!

KOMPAN Opens Fitness Institute. Offers Complete Fitness Range!

okdqgwzpfm0i8dskbcin
KOMPAN, the world’s leading manufacturer of playground equipment and a pioneer in playgrounds that promote health, learning and social inclusion, announced an exciting new initiative, the KOMPAN Fitness Institute. They are adding a new product line called “STANDING STRONG™” to supplement KOMPAN’s X-ERCISE™ product line. And you can bet that Recreation inSites will make it available as soon as it’s available!

As a dedicated knowledge center, the KOMPAN Fitness Institute will support KOMPAN’s research and development work in outdoor fitness, a key focus area for the company. To head up the new Institute, KOMPAN has taken Rob Boogmans onboard, an expert in physical therapy and fitness, and the inventor of the STANDING STRONG™ outdoor fitness concept.

“We couldn’t be more excited about the new KOMPAN Fitness Institute, and the unique strengths Rob Boogmans will bring to KOMPAN,” says KOMPAN CEO Connie Astrup-Larsen. Built on unique “Adjustable Resistance” technology, STANDING STRONG™ will supplement KOMPAN’s X-ERCISE™ range and global distribution of TGO green energy outdoor gyms to create the industry’s most compelling outdoor fitness offering.

“I have long admired KOMPAN’s trail-blazing work with playgrounds, and I am thrilled about this opportunity to help KOMPAN further extend its leadership in a field I care passionately about,” says Rob Boogmans.

The Institute opened its doors in January 2015, when Rob joined KOMPAN at corporate headquarters in Denmark.

For sales and other information about KOMPAN playground equipment, contact Melissa Guffey, RN, CPSI, Principal at 317.201.7056 or email Melissa here!!

Watch A Community’s Christmas Dreams Come True!

KOMPAN partners with WestJet for an unbelievable Christmas surprise! Recreation inSites is proud to share with you a new video commemorating a charitable effort that KOMPAN representative Pat Zelenak (PlayWorks – Alberta, Canada) collaborated on with West Jet Airlines. On Monday, WestJet released a Christmas video with Santa’s sleigh appearing in Puerto Plata, a community…