active play


Studies show that children playing in indoor centres meet or exceed government targets for activity


at York St John University and an advanced clinical occupational therapist, worked with occupational therapy students to create a series of graded and structured play circuits to extend the skills of children. The research proved directed activities utilising the soft play and indoor play environments can improve the motor skills of children with DCD.


The children with DCD said that they


preferred doing their exercises and programme in the centre, and the families expressed the same. It felt fun as opposed to doing the same exercises in a clinical hospital environment. Following the studies, Dunphy believes more


research is needed to change perceptions about the benefits of indoor play. “We need more tangible evidence to lift the


preconceptions about what soft play has to offer and to approach agencies to discuss the journey going forward. Centres are more than happy to be involved in programmes and very willing to offer their facilities to be utilised by various groups. They just need the opportunity,” she says. Today’s centres, particularly BALPPA


members, meet and exceed health and safety requirements, including independent annual inspections, which are not required by law. The new wave of centres built in the last 15 years have invested heavily into their offering, are available in most towns and cities and have a very low entry fee compared to gyms and other leisure attractions, says Dunphy. “Play offers a huge range of benefits, not just


physical. Children don’t need to understand these benefits, they just need to play. In the future, we would like indoor play centres to be recognised as a viable asset for health care professionals to treat children with a variety of health issues. In fact, in light of their benefits, play centres could be known as child wellbeing centres or healthy living centres, but why should we remove the most important word – play? Play needs to be given more respect than it receives. After all, it is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children.”


www.balppa.org www.webadventurepark.co.uk


pactfacilities.co.uk 37


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41