When a person thinks of a ball pit they generally think of a fun time for kids to jump around and play with their friends. However, few people know the educational and developmental benefits of ball pits for children. “Ball pits provide children with many opportunities to enrich their learning. Because of our growing attachment to technology and our devices, it’s becoming more difficult to get kids to play outside and use equipment such as ball pits and we are forgetting how important these activities are,” says Kylie-Jane Shannon, the owner of Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre.

Young children enjoy playing in ball pits, they will normally dive in and have fun. Babies and young kids are immediately attracted to anything that rolls and it holds their attention, which helps with their development. Playing in ball bits helps children to strengthen their muscles and throwing and rolling the balls helps them to develop their fine motor skills. It is also a good opportunity for sensory play for young children. As they move through the balls it provides them with a sense of calm. Walking through and over the balls will also help children to start to build their balance skills. Playing in ball pits with other children helps them to develop their social skills too. Each child will find something exciting about a ball pit, whether it is the bright colours of the balls or to discover what it’s like to throw and catch the balls. This will also help children stimulate creativity and imagination as they create their own games.

There are many reasons for children to play with balls. The simple act of rolling, kicking, catching or throwing a ball helps children improve their motor skills, hand-eye coordination and timing, which are all an important part of the developmental process for children. Playing in a ball pit will also help children develop their language skills and teach them how to negotiate with others. Ball pits also help children to be expressive as well as release their energy and tension. The skills learnt in the ball pit will help children progress to cooperative and competitive play as they get older.

While some types of play may seem irrelevant or not necessary, many children’s games and activities have a substantial effect on their development, and their development as a child has a substantial effect on how there life could be as an adult,” says Kylie. Besides a ball pit, there are many ways parents can include ball play into their children’s play routine. They can simply buy them a little ball and play a one-on-one game or they could find specifically designed ball games to enhance their child’s development,” adds Kylie.

Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre has an amazing ball pit facility for children as well as other facilities that support children’s development. It’s the perfect facility for parents to take their little ones out for a day of fun but also for a day of building developmental skills!

Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre continues to dedicate its expertise and delight to serving families within the town of Wallan, Victoria.

Check out their full range of services and current featured promotions at junglekids.com.au.Visit their Facebook page to view all their activities and special offerings. Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre is open seven (7) days a week and is open until 5:00pm on weekdays during the school holidays.

As part of their Play-all-day Single Admission, adults and babies attend free of charge. 12 months to 3 years old attend at $8.50 and 4 years old to 12 years old attend at $10.00.

Written and syndicated by: YDMA News

Having friends is essential for children’s development as well as their overall health and well-being. It’s important for children’s social and emotional development to be around others who have different personalities and different ideas. “Having friends helps children develop many life skills that are necessary in day-to-day activities. Without these skills children could struggle to build normal social skills or relationships,” says Kylie-Jane Shannon, the owner of Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre.

Young children (pre-school age) need to learn friendship skills. As they play with other children, they build skills that will help them in the present and into the future. These skills include; sharing, taking turns, cooperating, listening to others, managing disagreements as well as seeing other people’s points of view.

Other social skills that can be learnt when interacting with friends, are talking and listening respectfully as well as learning to win and lose graciously. It’s important for children to learn how to interact with others and to develop the correct skills to participate in group activities. Having good friends can also encourage good behaviour in children as they begin to be influenced by their friends.

When kids get older and they enter school, relationships with other people become even more important. Friendships at this age can influence children’s self-esteem. When they have a good friend or a good group of friends they feel that they belong. Their friends care for them and that makes them feel good about themselves.

This creates a general positive outlook on life. “Studies have found that children who build positive social and friendship skills are less likely to have social and emotional difficulties later in life,” says Kylie. Developing good friendships as young children also helps to increase their capacity for empathy as well as altruism.

Sometimes it can be tough for kids to make friends. Parents should encourage children to get involved socially and to make new friends. If children see that their parents encourage that behaviour, it can make them feel more comfortable to put themselves out there and make friends. There are ways for parents to help their children make friends. For example, taking children to an indoor play centre such as Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre, or a play area, like a park, are great spaces to expose children to others and to make friends and build good friendship skills. Opportunities such as this give children a large variety of friends to choose from. It’s helpful to teach children certain social cues such as how to respond to other children’s greetings. It’s also good to encourage a child to introduce themselves when they meet new children. Help them to learn the rules of games that they would like to play with others. This can help them to get involved in group activities in a seamless manner.

Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre continues to dedicate its expertise and delight to serving families within the town of Wallan, Victoria.

Check out their full range of services and current featured promotions at junglekids.com.au.Visit their Facebook page to view all their activities and special offerings. Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre is open seven (7) days a week and is open until 5:00pm on weekdays during the school holidays.

As part of their Play-all-day Single Admission, adults and babies attend free of charge. 12 months to 3 years old attend at $8.50 and 4 years old to 12 years old attend at $10.00.

Written and syndicated by: YDMA News

Recent studies have indicated that too much time spent on smartphones or other digital and screen devices can be detrimental to aspects of children’s development. This can include, slower development of social skills, a decrease in physical health, and interrupted sleep patterns.

Kylie-Jane Shannon, owner of Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre, discusses ways that indoor play centres can provide alternative activities that can combat the negative influences of too much time on digital and screen devices.

“Studies have shown that the average child can spend up to six hours a day on a digital or screen device, which can cause concerns that parents should take seriously. Concerns can include social isolation, poor physical health, and problems with vision to name a few,” says Kylie. “While there is a lot of educational and entertaining online activity, parents of young children should try to limit online viewing to an hour or two a day. It is also advisable for parents to monitor children’s online activity to ensure they are using devices appropriately and responsibly and to reduce digital device addiction,” adds Kylie.

Offering children alternative options to online activities is healthy and an indoor play centre is an ideal alternative. “Indoor play centres are excellent as they offer activities that can rejuvenate all of a child’s senses,” says Kylie. Importantly, children develop good social skills, and are better able to interact and communicate with others,” adds Kylie.

Spending too much time in front of a digital or screen device can be particularly detrimental to a child’s physical health. Activities at indoor play centres can support the development of children’s agility, speed, and overall athletic ability. “At Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre, the enclosed ball pit, triple story slide and jeep rider are three activities that support children’s physical and mental development and help to develop independence in children,” says Kylie.

Expending energy in an indoor play centre environment can be both rewarding and fulfilling for many children. Many of the activities are designed to challenge children’s physical, mental and emotional stamina, thus enhancing their sense of wellbeing. “Activities that enable children to expend their energy and tire them out, can also contribute to better sleeping patterns and happier, more well-adjusted children,” says Kylie.

Whether children are participating in activities in an indoor play centre or spending time on digital and screen devices, parents should ensure that children have access to healthy food and water. Sometimes, children who spend too much time in front of digital or screen devices, can tend to eat unhealthy snack foods high in sugar and sodium as they are readily available and easier to eat in front of the screen.

Understanding the dynamics between children and digital technology is crucial for parents. “While digital technology is educative and entertaining, parents should consider age-appropriate platforms and balance online viewing with other activities that promote and support a child’s physical, mental, emotional and social development. As with everything in today’s world, moderation is the key,” says Kylie.

Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre continues to dedicate its expertise and delight to serving families within the town of Wallan, Victoria.

Check out their full range of services and current featured promotions at junglekids.com.au.Visit their Facebook page to view all their activities and special offerings. Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre is open seven (7) days a week and is open until 5:00pm on weekdays during the school holidays.

As part of their Play-all-day Single Admission, adults and babies attend free of charge. 12 months to 3 years old attend at $8.50 and 4 years old to 12 years old attend at $10.00.

Written and syndicated by: YDMA News