Whether in the playground or at home, soft play shapes are an important element of childhood play. They’re fun, safe, and help children hone their gross motor skills while engaging in imaginative play that promotes cognitive growth. Soft play shapes also provide sensory input, which can be soothing and regulating for kids with sensory processing disorders or sensory integration dysfunction.
While many people associate soft play equipment with social interaction, the equipment is designed for independent and group play. Some obstacles are designed to encourage communication between children as they work together to solve a problem or wait for their turn to slide or swing. The opportunity for children to climb over or through a maze of tubes or create a tunnel with friends helps to build teamwork and coordination.
Children learn to adapt to the challenges of the equipment while playing in soft, protective environments that make them feel confident and secure. The equipment also provides a chance for kids to learn about the world around them by exploring new textures, colours and smells. The ability to think and act independently in a safe environment gives kids a high sense of self-esteem and confidence that can translate into their everyday lives, helping them feel capable and resilient.
Another benefit of soft play is that it can be adapted for different skill levels, making it a great option for kids of all ages. Changing the height of an obstacle can increase or decrease the difficulty and allow for different abilities to tackle the challenge at their own level. This allows kids to explore their potential and push themselves further than they would otherwise be able to.
The bright colours and simplistic shapes of the soft play pieces stimulate children’s imagination, encouraging them to be creative and to use their imagination to their advantage. The large shape set, for example, is a great addition to any theme and can be used as a maze, or a tunnel, or even a city skyline. Kids can also create their own structures or games with the blocks and develop their creativity, fine motor skills and spatial awareness in a safe environment that is easy to clean up.
Kids can also practice their problem-solving skills by working out how to get through a soft obstacle course, or by deciding how to best use an area of the playground. This type of thinking is a crucial part of their development and will help them when they enter the real world and need to think for themselves.
While the benefits of soft play are numerous, it is important to remember that kids need supervision while using these toys. It can be easy for them to hurt themselves or others while trying out new things, and it’s essential for parents to be on hand to support their kids in their explorations. Soft play equipment offers a safe, fun and educational alternative to traditional playgrounds, and it’s easy to implement into any outdoor or indoor space with the right guidelines in place.