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Indoor Playgrounds: Equipment, Slides, Swing Sets, Jungle Gyms, Chuck E Cheese
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Published: December 14, 2007
As cold weather and rainy days come about, many parents look for an alternative to the swing sets, slides and jungle gyms easily found in local parks and outdoor playgrounds. As children still need exercise and socializing, the answers can be found in indoor playgrounds. Indoor playgrounds have the benefits of outdoor jungle gyms and swing sets, but in a controlled environment.
For children who need to be active for a while, stopping by Chuck E. Cheese's or the local Burger King may be the answer.
Indoor playgrounds come in many sizes, just as each outdoor playground varies. Smaller playgrounds may be found inside quick service restaurants such as KFC, McDonald's and Burger King. Larger playgrounds are found attached to local arcades and amusement centers, as well as at vacation destinations such as Disney and Wisconsin Dells. Depending on the establishment, indoor playgrounds can vary from small jungle gyms to expansive fortresses with slides, ball pits and mazes. Swing sets are not often found indoors, but the many other options rarely allow children to notice their favorite attraction may be missing. Many indoor playgrounds, such as those found in nation wide Chuck E. Cheese's, involve a series of tubes that twist and connect to form crawling mazes for children.
One leading equipment manufacturer is the International Play Company. They have many international clients including Disney, KFC, McDonald's and various Fitness Chains. The company has pre-designed ideas as well as a self-built playground page, which allows companies or designers to select the aspects of indoor playgrounds they like best for their establishment. Apart from the simple tubes and slides, there are interactive attachments, play panels and themed elements. There are also smaller items for toddlers and baby play areas.
Indoor playgrounds are increasingly popular because of their easy maintenance and beneficial elements. While indoor playgrounds are a great way for children to simply burn off energy and have some fun, they function on deeper levels. The International Play Company designs their indoor playgrounds with four factors in mind. They place importance on the physical development of children, as well as the cognitive, emotional and cultural developments experienced by young children. Using interactive elements in their indoor playgrounds helps children expand their minds while having an enjoyable play time.
One concern for parents has been the cleanliness of indoor playgrounds. While Chuck E. Cheese's restaurants are under review at least once a year, their indoor playgrounds are not being monitored for sanitary conditions. Indoor playgrounds are not currently regulated by state or county health departments, though some are making a push for the change. Most establishments have a schedule for cleaning the equipment and include daily check-ups. Some restaurants have only admitted to cleaning inside crawling tubes once a month. Because there are no regulations, parents are encouraged to keep the appearance of the play area in mind before sending children in to play. Other precautions include wearing socks and washing hands immediately after playing. Some play areas include hand sanitizer, but most do not.
Though they include a risk of germs, as with any playground or school setting, indoor playgrounds remain a convenient and beneficial way for children to play and exercise all year. The various equipment makes children engage in physical activity while using their young minds to help navigate tunnels, understand direction and increase social skills. While there are many large international vacation destinations with larger indoor playgrounds, small playgrounds can be found and used locally through many restaurants and amusement centers.
Sources:
"International Play Company: Build Your Own Playground." 2001. International Play Co. 7 Nov. 2007. http://www.internationalplayco.com/wishlist.php?ca t=31.
"International Play Company: Corporate Information." 2001. International Play Co. 7 Nov. 2007. http://www.internationalplayco.com/public.php?sect ion_id=17.
Webb, Toya. "Are Indoor Playgrounds Clean?" NWHerald.com. 2007. Northwest Herald. 7 Nov. 2007. http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2007/09/24/news/l ocal/doc46f6342e2aad3917110737.txt.
Related Articles
Indoor playgrounds come in many sizes, just as each outdoor playground varies. Smaller playgrounds may be found inside quick service restaurants such as KFC, McDonald's and Burger King. Larger playgrounds are found attached to local arcades and amusement centers, as well as at vacation destinations such as Disney and Wisconsin Dells. Depending on the establishment, indoor playgrounds can vary from small jungle gyms to expansive fortresses with slides, ball pits and mazes. Swing sets are not often found indoors, but the many other options rarely allow children to notice their favorite attraction may be missing. Many indoor playgrounds, such as those found in nation wide Chuck E. Cheese's, involve a series of tubes that twist and connect to form crawling mazes for children.
One leading equipment manufacturer is the International Play Company. They have many international clients including Disney, KFC, McDonald's and various Fitness Chains. The company has pre-designed ideas as well as a self-built playground page, which allows companies or designers to select the aspects of indoor playgrounds they like best for their establishment. Apart from the simple tubes and slides, there are interactive attachments, play panels and themed elements. There are also smaller items for toddlers and baby play areas.
Indoor playgrounds are increasingly popular because of their easy maintenance and beneficial elements. While indoor playgrounds are a great way for children to simply burn off energy and have some fun, they function on deeper levels. The International Play Company designs their indoor playgrounds with four factors in mind. They place importance on the physical development of children, as well as the cognitive, emotional and cultural developments experienced by young children. Using interactive elements in their indoor playgrounds helps children expand their minds while having an enjoyable play time.
One concern for parents has been the cleanliness of indoor playgrounds. While Chuck E. Cheese's restaurants are under review at least once a year, their indoor playgrounds are not being monitored for sanitary conditions. Indoor playgrounds are not currently regulated by state or county health departments, though some are making a push for the change. Most establishments have a schedule for cleaning the equipment and include daily check-ups. Some restaurants have only admitted to cleaning inside crawling tubes once a month. Because there are no regulations, parents are encouraged to keep the appearance of the play area in mind before sending children in to play. Other precautions include wearing socks and washing hands immediately after playing. Some play areas include hand sanitizer, but most do not.
Though they include a risk of germs, as with any playground or school setting, indoor playgrounds remain a convenient and beneficial way for children to play and exercise all year. The various equipment makes children engage in physical activity while using their young minds to help navigate tunnels, understand direction and increase social skills. While there are many large international vacation destinations with larger indoor playgrounds, small playgrounds can be found and used locally through many restaurants and amusement centers.
Sources:
"International Play Company: Build Your Own Playground." 2001. International Play Co. 7 Nov. 2007. http://www.internationalplayco.com/wishlist.php?ca t=31.
"International Play Company: Corporate Information." 2001. International Play Co. 7 Nov. 2007. http://www.internationalplayco.com/public.php?sect ion_id=17.
Webb, Toya. "Are Indoor Playgrounds Clean?" NWHerald.com. 2007. Northwest Herald. 7 Nov. 2007. http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2007/09/24/news/l ocal/doc46f6342e2aad3917110737.txt.
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