Category Archives: Benefits of Play

Child development, early childhood, physical and social-emotional benefits

Big Play for Small Explorers: Introducing Smart Play® Volo Pico+™

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Young children are capable of incredible things. They’re natural explorers, eager problem-solvers and fearless adventurers. Yet playground equipment designed for ages 2 to 5 doesn’t always reflect their growing abilities or curiosity.

At Landscape Structures, we believe early childhood playgrounds should offer more than a few steps, slides and activity panels. They should inspire children to explore, challenge themselves, connect with others and discover what they’re capable of.

That’s why we introduced Smart Play® Volo Pico+™, a first-of-its-kind play experience that reimagines what’s possible for children ages 2 to 5.

Part of our innovative Smart Play family, Volo Pico+ combines inclusive design, age-appropriate challenges and immersive play opportunities in one compact structure. With 21 fully connected activities and endless ways to explore, it delivers big play for small explorers.

Playground Equipment for Ages 2 to 5, Reimagined

Between ages 2 and 5, children experience tremendous physical, cognitive, sensory and social-emotional development. They’re building coordination, testing their balance, developing problem-solving skills and learning how to interact with the world around them.

Playgrounds play an important role in supporting these developmental milestones. To do so, they must give children opportunities to explore at their own pace. At the same time, children need challenges that match their growing abilities.

Too often, playground equipment for younger children offers limited opportunities for discovery. As their confidence and abilities grow, children may lose interest and gravitate toward equipment intended for older kids.

Volo Pico+ takes a different approach.

Rather than prescribing how children should move through the structure, its open-format design invites them to create their own adventures. Multiple entry points and varying levels of challenge allow children to choose their own routes and discover new possibilities with every visit. It’s a play experience that meets children where they are while encouraging them to see how far they can go.

One Net. A Whole New Way to Play.

At the heart of Volo Pico+ is our proprietary LSI Flexx® Net, an innovative, steel-reinforced cable matrix that connects the entire structure.

Unlike traditional playground platforms and stairs, the LSI Flexx Net offers more ways to play. Children can climb, crawl, roll, bounce, balance or simply relax. Plus, the interconnected design encourages movement and makes it easy to explore activities throughout the structure.

And there’s plenty to discover along the way.

Integrated puzzles, diecast car tracks and other hands-on activities encourage fine motor development, imaginative play and problem-solving. Children can move between active physical challenges and quieter moments of exploration. As a result, they experience play that engages both body and mind.

With 21 fully connected activities, Volo Pico+ packs exceptional play value into a compact footprint. During early play testing, families saw the benefits of inclusive play firsthand. For example, Carly’s mother watched her daughter explore the structure with growing confidence. Even more exciting, Carly demonstrated abilities her family had never seen before.

“It wasn’t just about accessibility,” explained Jeannie Beck, Carly’s mom. “It was about giving Carly the opportunity to fully participate, explore, gain confidence and simply play. Watching her discover what she was capable of was a moment we’ll never forget.”

Different Paths. New Discoveries. Endless Possibilities.

Every child develops differently. That’s why inclusive playground design is about more than providing access. It’s about creating meaningful opportunities for children with different abilities, interests and comfort levels to participate.

Volo Pico+ supports a wide range of developmental experiences:

  • Physical development: Climbing, balancing and navigating the net encourage coordination, motor planning, strength and agility.
  • Sensory exploration: Movement, textures and visual elements engage multiple sensory systems, including tactile, vestibular and proprioceptive senses.
  • Cognitive development: Puzzles, pathways and open-ended activities invite problem-solving, decision-making and creative thinking.
  • Social-emotional development: Shared play experiences encourage cooperation, communication and connections with other children.

Its approachable scale and varied access routes help children explore with confidence. The design also provides space for caregivers to enter the structure and engage alongside young children, supporting shared moments of play and discovery.

The result is an ADA-compliant play environment that celebrates different ways of playing and growing.

21 Activities. One Surprisingly Small Footprint.

For landscape architects, park and recreation professionals and school planners, Volo Pico+ offers an exciting way to bring developmentally appropriate play to early childhood environments.

Its compact footprint maximizes play opportunities while minimizing the amount of safety surfacing required. Preconfigured designs simplify planning, with options for integrated shade to help protect children from UV exposure and keep them cooler.

A variety of color choices also makes it easy to complement the surrounding landscape or create a distinctive visual identity.

And for communities planning playgrounds that serve multiple age groups, Volo Pico+ pairs naturally with Smart Play Volo® and Volo Aire®. Together, these structures can create a visually cohesive playground destination with engaging experiences for children at different stages of development.

Big Moves. Small Discoveries. Real Development.

Young children don’t need smaller expectations. They need playgrounds that recognize their abilities, spark their curiosity and give them room to grow.

With Volo Pico+, we’re challenging traditional ideas about early childhood playground design and creating new opportunities for children ages 2 to 5 to explore. Because when we give little kids big opportunities to play, there’s no telling what they’ll discover.

Explore Smart Play Volo Pico+ and discover a new perspective on playground equipment for ages 2 to 5.

Frequently Asked Questions about Volo Pico+

1. What makes Volo Pico+ different from traditional playground equipment for ages 2 to 5?

Smart Play Volo Pico+ features 21 interconnected activities, a central LSI Flexx Net and multiple access points that encourage child-directed exploration rather than prescribed play routes.

2. How does Volo Pico+ support early childhood development?

Volo Pico+ combines climbing, balancing, puzzles, car tracks and social play to encourage physical, cognitive, sensory and social-emotional development in children ages 2 to 5.

3. Can Volo Pico+ be incorporated into a larger playground?

Yes. Volo Pico+ can complement Smart Play Volo and Volo Aire, helping create a visually cohesive playground environment with developmentally appropriate experiences for different age groups.

8 Sensory Play Activities to Explore All Eight Senses at the Playground

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October is Sensory Processing Awareness Month, a time to recognize how our senses influence the way we experience the world. Dr. Ariel Mansholt, OTR/L, CPSI, is an inclusive play specialist at Landscape Structures and a practicing pediatric occupational therapist. Drawing on her clinical expertise, she shares eight sensory play activities that families can explore at their local playground.

How do playgrounds support sensory development?

Our sensory systems help us take in, organize and interpret information from our bodies and the world around us. They shape how we experience everyday sights, sounds, movements and sensations.

We often think about five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. But three additional senses play important roles in how we move, understand our bodies and recognize what we need.

Together, these eight sensory systems help us navigate our environments and participate in everyday activities.

For children with sensory processing differences, these experiences can look and feel different. Some children may be particularly sensitive to certain sensations, such as clothing seams or loud noises. Others may seek additional movement or deep pressure to help meet their sensory needs.

At Landscape Structures, we work with organizations like the STAR Institute for Sensory Processing to better understand these differences. We use that knowledge to help create sensory-friendly playgrounds that offer a variety of experiences and opportunities for play.

In recognition of Sensory Processing Awareness Month, I encourage you to visit your local playground and try these eight sensory play activities. Each one offers an opportunity to explore a different sensory system.

1. Slide into body awareness: Proprioceptive sense

The Rollerslide offers a fun way for children to experience proprioceptive input.

Proprioception is our body’s ability to sense its position, movement and force. It helps us understand where our body parts are without having to look at them.

As children slide down on their belly, bottom or back, the rollers provide sensory feedback to their muscles and joints. This input can help children explore body awareness and discover how they move through space.

Pushing and pulling activities also engage the proprioceptive system. Children can explore this sense while helping a friend move on a We-Go-Round® or pushing someone on a swing.

2. Swing into motion: Vestibular sense

Swinging is a great way to explore the vestibular system, which helps us understand movement, balance and our body’s position in space.

As children swing, change directions or adjust their speed, their vestibular system processes information about how their body is moving.

Different types of movement create different sensory experiences. Some children enjoy slow, gentle and rhythmic swinging, which may help them feel calm and organized. Others prefer more active movement.

Encourage children to explore movement at a pace that feels comfortable for them. Pay attention to their responses and let them guide the experience.

3. Get messy with sand: Tactile sense

A sand pit or sensory table offers endless opportunities to explore the tactile system, or our sense of touch.

Our tactile system gathers information about textures, temperatures and physical contact through our skin.

Start by encouraging children to feel dry sand with their hands or feet. Ask them to describe what they notice. Does it feel soft, rough, grainy or smooth?

Next, add a little water with a spray bottle. Children can squeeze the damp sand, dig with their fingers or build shapes and structures.

As the sand becomes wetter, its texture changes. These differences create opportunities for children to explore and compare tactile sensations.

Remember that not every child enjoys messy play. Offer tools such as scoops or shovels so children can participate in ways that feel comfortable.

4. Take a break in the Cozy Dome®: Interoceptive sense

Some children seek additional sensory input, while others benefit from environments with fewer distractions.

The Cozy Dome® offers a place where children can crawl inside and take a break from some of the visual and auditory activity around them.

It’s also a great opportunity to explore interoception.

Interoception helps us recognize signals from inside our bodies. These signals tell us when we’re hungry, thirsty, tired, hot, cold or need to use the restroom.

Encourage children to pause and notice how their bodies feel. Are they breathing quickly? Do they need water? Are they ready to play again, or would they like another minute to rest?

One of my favorite ways to introduce slow, controlled breathing is by blowing bubbles. Children can practice taking a comfortable breath and slowly blowing out to create a bubble.

This simple activity can encourage body awareness while making the experience playful.

5. Make some music: Auditory sense

Find a playground with outdoor musical instruments, like those in our Rhapsody® Outdoor Musical Instruments collection.

Xylophones, drums and chimes offer opportunities to explore the auditory system, which helps us recognize and interpret sounds.

Children can use mallets or their hands to create rhythms, experiment with different sounds and discover musical patterns.

Encourage them to compare high and low notes. What happens when they tap an instrument gently? How does the sound change when they play more loudly?

Children can also practice listening to the sounds around them, from birds chirping to leaves rustling in the wind.

For children who are sensitive to sound, encourage quieter exploration and allow them to choose their distance from musical activities.

6. Pack a playground picnic: Gustatory sense

The gustatory system is responsible for our sense of taste. It helps us recognize sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savory flavors.

A playground picnic offers a fun opportunity to explore this sense while taking a break from active play.

Pack familiar snacks with a variety of flavors and textures. Encourage children to describe what they taste and notice how different foods feel in their mouths.

Is the apple sweet or tart? Is the cracker crunchy or soft?

A picnic also creates opportunities for conversation, connection and social interaction.

Remember to respect individual food preferences, allergies and dietary needs. Children can participate by talking about, looking at or smelling foods without feeling pressured to taste something new.

7. Stop and smell the flowers: Olfactory sense

The olfactory system gives us our sense of smell.

Take a walk around your local playground or park and explore the trees, flowers and plants growing nearby.

Encourage children to notice different scents. Does a flower smell sweet or fresh? Do fallen leaves have an earthy smell?

Depending on your local environment and the season, you may discover something different each time you visit.

You can also explore the scents of familiar items from home, such as an orange peel or fresh herbs.

These activities encourage children to pay attention to the world around them while exploring their sense of smell.

8. Go on a color hunt: Visual sense

Our visual system helps us recognize colors, shapes, movement and other information in our surroundings.

Playgrounds offer plenty of opportunities to explore this sense through colorful equipment, interesting patterns and changing perspectives.

Try a color scavenger hunt. Ask children to find something red, blue or yellow. Then challenge them to find different shapes, repeating patterns or objects that move.

Encourage children to look up, down and around the playground. What do they notice from the top of a climber compared with the ground?

You can also explore light and shadows. Watch how shadows change as you move or how sunlight filters through playground panels.

These simple activities encourage visual exploration, observation and curiosity.

Why are sensory experiences important in inclusive playground design?

Our sensory systems influence how we interact with the world around us. They also contribute to body awareness, movement, emotional regulation and participation in everyday activities.

Sensory experiences can support opportunities for learning, problem-solving, social interaction and play.

But every child processes sensory information differently. An activity that feels calming to one child may feel overwhelming to another.

That’s why variety matters in inclusive playground design.

When we create playgrounds with opportunities for movement, touch, sound, visual exploration and quiet breaks, we give children more ways to engage with their surroundings.

We also create opportunities for children to discover which experiences feel best for their bodies.

Try an eight-senses playground scavenger hunt

Looking for another fun way to explore the senses? Turn your next playground visit into a sensory scavenger hunt!

See if you can find something that engages each of the eight sensory systems:

  • Tactile: Can you find something rough or smooth?
  • Gustatory: Can you find your favorite playground snack?
  • Vestibular: Can you find something you can spin or swing on?
  • Proprioceptive: Can you find something you can climb, push or pull?
  • Visual: Can you find something colorful?
  • Auditory: Can you find something that makes a loud or quiet sound?
  • Olfactory: Can you find something with an interesting smell?
  • Interoception: Can you tell if your body feels hot, cold, thirsty or tired?

As children discover each item, talk about which sensory system they’re using and how the experience makes them feel.

There’s no right or wrong way to explore. Encourage children to participate at their own pace and choose the experiences they enjoy.

Celebrate Sensory Processing Awareness Month through play

Sensory Processing Awareness Month reminds us that everyone experiences the world differently.

By recognizing those differences, we can create more welcoming play environments that offer meaningful experiences for children of all abilities.

Whether children are swinging, climbing, making music or simply taking a quiet break, playgrounds offer opportunities to explore their senses and discover what works best for them.

This October, I encourage you to visit a local playground, try a few new sensory play activities and celebrate the many ways we experience the world through play.

Play Grows With Us: Inside the Neighborhood Ninjas NinjaFit Grand Opening

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On Aug. 22, teens and adults in Lee, Mass., found themselves climbing, swinging, reaching and occasionally falling short before getting right back up to try again thanks to a new outdoor fitness playground.

They had some expert help. American Ninja Warrior®, a registered trademark of Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc., competitors Jessie Graff, Ginny McColl, Alyssa Beird and others were there to offer encouragement and coach attendees through the obstacles at the grand opening of the Neighborhood Ninjas NinjaFit Playground.

Community members cut the ribbon on the new outdoor fitness playground
Members of the Lee, Mass., community come together to cut the ribbon on the new Neighborhood Ninjas NinjaFit Playground

Neighborhood Ninjas is a nonprofit organization that uses the sport of American Ninja Warrior to help youth build active lifestyles, confidence, connection and resilience. The Lee playground is its second NinjaFit location, following the first in Wilmington, Del.

Nobody had to tell the adults to play. Give people an interesting enough challenge, and play happens naturally.

The new NinjaFit Playground, featuring Landscape Structures’ FitCore™ Extreme equipment for ages 13+, offers a reminder that playgrounds don’t have to be something we leave behind as we grow older.

We Don’t Outgrow Play

Play changes as we grow. The activities that captivate a preschooler aren’t necessarily going to capture the attention of a teenager. But the desire to challenge ourselves, connect with others and experience the satisfaction of accomplishing something difficult doesn’t disappear.

Maybe we don’t age out of play. Maybe the way we want to play simply evolves.

“Obstacles are a metaphor for life,” said Alex Katz, executive director of Neighborhood Ninjas and an American Ninja Warrior competitor. “We’re helping young adults get stronger, work on growth mindset and resilience, and learn how to overcome obstacles, not just on the course, but in real life, too.”

For teens and adults, play might involve physical challenge and perceived risk. It can mean competition one minute and cooperation the next. It’s trying, failing, laughing and trying again. And when movement feels like play rather than a prescribed workout, being active can simply be fun.

Designing for the Ages We Often Overlook

Traditional playgrounds provide important opportunities for children to move, explore and socialize. But as children enter their teenage years, there can be fewer spaces intentionally designed for the ways they want to gather and be active.

Teenage girls climb the FitCore Extreme Cargo Net, part of the newest outdoor fitness playground in Lee, Mass.
Teenage girls navigate the Cargo Net of the outdoor fitness playground

“Teens in Berkshire County are looking for spaces that they can be more social in, that help them become better members of society,” said Stacy Parsons, director of community engagement and juvenile diversion.

Designed for ages 13+, FitCore Extreme provides progressively challenging obstacles that encourage strength, agility, balance and coordination. Outdoor fitness playgrounds can make physical activity more accessible and engaging while providing opportunities for teens and adults to challenge their fitness.

They can also help parks serve the whole family.

“Many communities are searching for ways to create multigenerational spaces, and FitCore Extreme equipment allows for that,” said David Smith, senior vice president of sales at Landscape Structures. “Outdoor fitness equipment can be installed near a traditional playground so the entire family, including teen siblings and parents, can stay active while younger children play.”

Challenge Meets Community

That sense of connection was on full display during the NinjaFit grand opening.

The American Ninja Warrior competitors weren’t there simply to demonstrate what they could do. They coached attendees through obstacles, celebrated successes and encouraged people to try again when they didn’t quite make it.

The Wheel Bridge made to look easy by this ninja.
Community member spiderwalks his way through the outdoor fitness playground
Ninja competitor easily moves across the Globe Grasp
Ninjas and community members test out the NinjaFit Playground obstacles

It reflected something at the heart of ninja culture: Challenge may be individual, but overcoming it doesn’t have to be.

And sometimes the encouragement you need is simple.

“If I can do it, you can do it,” said Ginny McColl.

At 74, McColl knows something about refusing to put an age limit on challenge. The mother of Jessie Graff, McColl began her own strength journey at age 61.

“My motto is ‘strength is ageless,’” McColl said. “You’re never too old, and you’re never too late to start.”

Ginny McColl, 74-year-old American Ninja Warrior competitor, shares her motto for health with the grand opening crowd

After falling early in her first American Ninja Warrior competition, McColl remembers her daughter reminding her not to let one fall define her and instead recognize how far she had come.

It’s a lesson that works on and off the course.

Play at 3 might look like navigating a wiggly ladder, and at 8 it might mean climbing to the top of a playground tower. At 15, it might be racing a friend through an outdoor fitness playground. At 40, it could mean wondering whether you can still make it across the monkey bars.

And at 74? It might mean looking at the next obstacle and thinking, “Why not?”

Building Confidence Through The Outdoor Fitness Playground

Physical challenges can also create opportunities to practice persistence, problem-solving, confidence, healthy risk-taking and resilience.

Beird sees that connection from two perspectives, as both a ninja athlete and a teacher.

“Physical challenges are often easier for middle schoolers and teenagers to try versus a difficult subject in school,” she said. “If they can build their confidence completing these obstacles, they may have more confidence heading into the classroom.”

American Ninja Warriors pose in front of the new Neighborhood Ninjas outdoor fitness playground.
American Ninja Warrior competitors are ready to help Lee, Mass., take on the outdoor fitness playground

That’s what makes spaces like the NinjaFit Playground more than outdoor fitness equipment. They create opportunities to discover what our bodies can do, experience failure in a supportive environment and build the confidence to try again.

Katz hopes that spirit becomes part of the new playground’s identity. A year from now, she wants to see teens gathering, families challenging one another, people building confidence and strength, and community members encouraging each other.

Playgrounds don’t have to be places we leave behind as we grow up. By creating experiences that evolve with our abilities, interests and desire for challenge, we can invite more generations to keep moving and playing.

Because play is life-changing, no matter your age.

Elevating education: Celebrating assistant principals and enriching playgrounds

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Elm Grove Elementary School, Texas

Celebrating the pillars of our educational community, particularly assistant principals, is more than a gesture—it’s a commitment to acknowledging the foundational role they play in our schools. We’re proud of our 15-year partnership with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) through which we partner with these educational professionals to promote healthy children, successful futures and encourage a place where children of all abilities can play, learn and grow together. We’re also excited to continue our sponsorship of its National Outstanding Assistant Principals® (NOAP) Program. This initiative shines a light on the extraordinary efforts of assistant principals across the nation, recognizing their dedication and the positive impacts they have within their school communities. See the Class of 2024 National Outstanding Assistant Principals.

Celebrating the 2024 National Outstanding Assistant Principals

Our commitment to enhancing the educational environment extends beyond accolades. Understanding the critical importance of play in child development, we also focus on the role of school playgrounds. These spaces are not just areas for recess, they are vital for encouraging physical activity, fostering social skills and enhancing cognitive development. Research underscores the significance of outdoor physical activity, not only for children’s health but also for their academic and social progress. Creating age-appropriate and developmentally suitable playgrounds is pivotal in ensuring that children receive the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity daily, as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To support this vision, we work with schools to bring these playground projects to fruition so children can thrive both inside and outside the classroom. For more detailed insights on planning and implementing school playgrounds, go here. Then contact your local Landscape Structures playground consultant to get started on designs for your upcoming playground projects today.

Playground Swings: The perfect addition to your play space

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Are you involved in the design or decision-making process of playgrounds? Or perhaps a parent of a child aged 2 to 12? Then you’ve landed in the right place! At Landscape Structures, we take pride in crafting top-tier commercial playground swing sets that are a notch above the rest. Below, you’ll learn about our commercial swing sets, the benefits of playground swings and how to select the perfect swing set for your needs.

Setting our commercial swing sets apart

With a focus on quality and safety, our commercial playground swingsets endure years of play. With high-quality, weather-resistant materials, we ensure our playground swings—posts, chains, seats, etc.—retain their structural integrity over time. The safety of children is our highest concern. We’ve incorporated numerous safety features into our swings, adhering to the strictest safety standards and certifications.

Understanding that every play space is unique, we will collaborate with you to bring your unique vision to life. Whether you’re interested in a particular color scheme to align with your school’s colors or want to include custom features, our experienced design team will create a tailored playground swing solution for you.

The advantages of investing in playground swings

Commercial swing sets are a fantastic addition to any play environment, offering numerous benefits for children’s overall development. They not only provide hours of fun but also foster physical activity, promoting coordination, balance, and strength.

Even more, playgrounds with swings enhance social and cognitive development, teaching children essential skills such as sharing and cooperation. They also encourage imaginative play, fostering friendships and strengthening social connections.

Our playground swings also facilitate inclusive play. We offer a variety of swing seats that allow children of all abilities to transfer and swing. Additionally, we designed the We-Go-Swing®, the first no-transfer inclusive swing that can be integrated into the playground setting. By investing in playground swings from Landscape Structures, you’re creating an inclusive environment where every child feels welcome and can fully participate.

Selecting the ideal commercial playground swingset for your playground

Choosing commercial playground swings involves careful consideration of several factors. From the age range, capacity of the playground swingset, variety of swing seats to the available space and installation requirements, each aspect is crucial in ensuring you select the perfect park swings for your needs.

Consider the warranty and maintenance options provided by the manufacturer. A solid warranty provides peace of mind, while maintenance options ensure your park swings remain in top condition. Go here to learn more about commercial playground maintenance in our infographic.

We understand the importance of choosing the right commercial swing set. We’re confident you’ll find the perfect fit from our diverse selection—tailored to meet all ages and abilities. Backed by a comprehensive warranty, our playground swings are guaranteed to deliver lasting enjoyment.