Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Playground
  • Surfacing
  • Parks
  • Athletics
  • Aquatics
  • Play
Home
  • Playground
  • Surfacing
  • Parks
  • Athletics
  • Aquatics
  • Play
  • What You Need To Know About Curb Ramps
  • Combating Childhood Obesity
  • 9 Things You No Longer See on Playgrounds
  • Benefits of Nature Play
  • Train Themed Playground
  • The World is a Kiwanis Playground

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Play
  3. Education
  4. Play On!

Play On!

Education
March 27, 2017
Profile picture for user Anne-Marie-Spencer
By Anne-Marie-Spencer on
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print
1008
Play On!

Active programming solutions to meet physical education standards on the playground

All around the country, playgrounds offer children health benefits that promote active lifestyles and overall fitness. Play develops a variety of fitness skills that help children develop into well-rounded adults and can instill a love of active behavior that carries throughout their life.

Physical activity through play is critical for healthy lifestyles. Communities are seeking valid ways to address the dramatic rise in childhood obesity and combat sedentary lifestyles in new, exciting ways. By providing evidence-based programs and well-designed outdoor play environments that intentionally promote fitness and physical activity, schools, parks, and activity centers can create more available opportunities for children to engage and have access to active play. 

SHAPE America has established standards for developing physically-literate students “who have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity” (SHAPE America, 2014). These standards have become the guiding principles of meaningful and significant content in physical education. Now, through a partnership between PlayCore and SHAPE America, programmers and physical educators can help children meet these fitness guidelines with fun activities that fully align with the SHAPE America standards in a program called Play On! The Play On! Program includes 125 playground activities that provide purposeful ways for schools and recreation professionals to effectively address health and wellness initiatives and provide active play initiatives through the use of six key play elements that promote fitness — balancing, brachiating, climbing, spinning, sliding, and swinging. For schools and parks alike, it provides another way to maximize their playground investment while ensuring that all children are active in play. 

Through a research grant contributed by SHAPE America, Dr. Yuanglong Liu and Dr. Suzan F. Ayers of the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Western Michigan University, developed and implemented an objective analysis of the Play On! program in order to measure Play On! as a valid program for promoting healthy physical activity in children.

Girls sliding down slide with adult observing

They conducted a national study to evaluate the program that provided specific information about the correlation between the program and physical activity benefits. Fourteen schools were selected in a national Beta Site selection process through SHAPE America, in which schools submitted an application to volunteer to participate in the research. Approximately 6,000 children from 14 Beta Sites in 5 states participated in the research study. Research included a series of pre- and post-intervention surveys completed by the teacher, children, and parents, as well as two focus groups at one of the Beta Sites to qualitatively measure physical activity and skill development.

The research findings showed: 

  • 91% of teachers reported that playground use increased 
  • 90% of teachers plan to use the program in the future 
  • 100% rated the program 4-5 on a 5-point scale 
  • 25% of parents participated in more family activity after the Play On! program was initiated 
  • 100% of students reported having fun engaging in the activities 
  • 90-100% of teachers reported that Play On! motivated students to participate in regular, enjoyable, physical activity in a safe and supervised environment 

Play On! is a rich resource that offers a variety of meaningful tools to help educators and programmers design meaningful physical education programs. This unique program can become a vital component in efforts to strengthen, educate, and build healthier communities through play, while maximizing the potential of playgrounds. 

Playgrounds can be designed to fully implement the Play On! program by incorporating pieces of equipment that promote the six key elements of play. Offering a developmental progression of skills within the equipment is important so there are activities that match current skill levels, as well as activities to aspire to in order to reach the next level of fitness. As an example, a solid, vertically-oriented climber is a great piece for beginners, while an open, rung-style, taller vertical climber might attract more skilled climbers. Considering variety in the types of equipment is also important for implementing the program as the activities are designed to promote brachiating/upper body bilateral coordination (alternating arm swinging-hanging-crawling), climbing, swinging, sliding, spinning, and balancing in order to promote a well-rounded exercise program.

Children being instructed on playground

Even more exciting, children who may not be enthusiastic about team sports or traditional physical education exercises remain engaged with Play On! because the program is play-based, and children see play as fun, not exercise. In addition, since the programmer can utilize the entire playground and use different activities to engage several groups of children at the same time, the entire group stays active, since no one needs to “wait for a turn.” 

A well-designed play space provides a critical opportunity to address the needs of the whole child and offer a wide variety of activities that motivate, engage, and challenge all children. Specific designs can be selected that encourage children to actively move through play and develop important fitness skills that align with national standards for physical activity. 

This unique program can become a vital component in strengthening, educating, and building healthy communities through play, while maximizing the potential of the playground.

Add new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
About text formats

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
Profile picture for user Anne-Marie-Spencer
Anne-Marie-Spencer
Published 6 years ago
Last updated 6 months ago
1008
3
min read
A- A+
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

More About

Websites and blogs for learning
Jul 28, 2020
Education

Checklist of Must-See Websites and Blogs for The Child to Learn In-Play

Anna Medina
Education is Critical in Working with Playground Stewards
Jan 01, 2002
Education

The Weakest Link

Playground Magazine
Sand castle on beach
Jan 28, 2020
Education

Which Activities are Best to do During School Break?

Jjennifer Billington
3 Ways to Balance Teaching Children of Different Ages
Jan 11, 2022
Education

3 Ways to Balance Teaching Children of Different Ages

Lilly Miller
Inviting Play
Mar 27, 2017
Education

Inviting Play

Francesca Zavacky
How Educational Videos Are Beneficial for Children?
Apr 27, 2021
Education

How Educational Videos Are Beneficial for Children?

Inna Atwood
How To Help Your Kids Overcome Stress During The Exam Period
Nov 11, 2021
Education

How To Help Your Kids Overcome Stress During The Exam Period

Inna Atwood
two teenagers examining programming code on computer screen
Jan 19, 2021
Education

Fun & Educational Ways to Teach Your Kids to Code

Adam Collins
Children in school
Mar 05, 2019
Education

9 Ways You Can Help Your Children Succeed At School

Becky Holton
Promoting the Value of Play
Dec 18, 2013
Education

Promoting the Value of Play

Carly Summers
Books in a library
Apr 20, 2020
Education

Helping Your Child Learn How to Read

John Caviness
Favorite Subject at School? Recess, of Course!
Dec 18, 2013
Education

Favorite Subject at School? Recess, of Course!

Melinda Bossenmeyer

Education Professionals

KidKiddos Books
KidKiddos Books
Organization
More
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Organization
More
Guildcraft Arts & Crafts
Guildcraft Arts & Crafts
Sales Rep
More
Tout About Toys
Tout About Toys
Manufacturer
More
Peaceful Playgrounds Foundation
Peaceful Playgrounds Foundation
Organization
More
Natural Learning Initiative
Natural Learning Initiative
Organization
More
Lakeshore Learning Materials
Lakeshore Learning Materials
Manufacturer
More
New England Symposium On Play
New England Symposium On Play
Organization
More
US Play Coalition
US Play Coalition
Organization
More
Association for Childhood Education International
Association for Childhood Education International
Organization
More
Shape America
Shape America
Organization
More
Playworks
Playworks
Organization
More
Home

Follow Us

Play and playground news and information since 2001

  • instagram
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • pinterest
  • linkedin

Company

  • Playground Magazine
  • Contributors
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Copyright © 2001 - 2023 Playground Professionals, LLC

Footer menu

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions