Summer now appears to be on the horizon and with plenty of spring sun everyone wants to be making the most of the garden and that includes outdoor play in all its guises. Clearly there are big benefits from spending time in the fresh air, with a word of caution to be liberal and frequent with the application of sun tan lotion!

For children today, the opportunities for freedom are now frequently constrained by a number of factors, including the amount road traffic, distance from a play park and general fears for child safety outside the home. This combined with the attraction of all the electronic games has meant many children not making the most of their gardens

As they grow, children are keen to discover more and invent games of their own, and by the age of three they will have moved onto items that help them in the development of balance, co-ordination and spatial awareness. At this stage alongside developing physical skills, social skills will be acquired as they imagine themselves on desert islands, in jungles, on a pirate ship or in a dragon's den. These vital skills learned from such an early age will give them
confidence, independence, strength, encourage teamwork and teach them to share and provide hours of fun.

By about the age of six the children have stretched themselves both in mind and body and will be keen to move onto more challenging play which the provision of items such as rock walls, scramble nets and monkey bars will provide. At this stage, everyone will also be clamouring for a trampoline and the exercise provided here is physically demanding and the fun value is terrific.

By Gillian Walton, Adventure Zone.