Basic Equipment Is Important For Child Development

Proper child care equipment is a big factor for physical development of a child. Physical development includes development of the large and small muscles. In order to develop large muscle coordination and balance, children need to use their legs, arms and back muscles in activities such as crawling, climbing, throwing and catching. Small muscles are developed through activities which require finer coordination, for example, grasping rattles, constructing with blocks, and placing pegs on pegboards. Another aspect of physical development is the acquisition of self-help skills and good health and safety habits. If children are provided with equipment, support and encouragement to help them dress, go to the bathroom and clean up, they will grow towards independence. Encouraging the use of hygiene equipment such as individual toothbrushes and safety equipment such as goggles for woodwork, will help children to develop good health and safety habits which will protect them throughout their lives. In order to support child development, the care provider is responsible for making sure there are enough materials and child care equipment so that a child is able to complete a fair-sized project; several children are able to work together or work at parallel, activities without running out of equipment or child care supplies; and some can be rotated in order to create variety.

Some child care centers which do not have extensive child care equipment must be able to provide access to climbing equipment and swings:

• cushioned area where infants can safely pull themselves up

• equipment to climb on and crawl through, over, in and out of: tunnels, cushions, boxes

• safety mats

• low climber and slide

• rocking toys

• adapted climber and slide if required

• climber

• boxes, planks, tires

• ladder

• balance beam

• slide

• safety mats

• swings

• tunnels

• adapted climber and slide if required

Games equipment develops not only large muscles, but also cooperative social skills.

• large, soft balls

• assorted balls: rubber, soccer, large/medium

• assorted sets of games equipment: floor hockey, bowling, tether ball, ring toss

• bean bags

• skipping rope

• tumbling mats

• Assorted large and small balls: rubber, foam, tennis, basketball

Manipulative toys help children develop coordination of small muscles.

• teething toys

• rattles

• squeeze toys

• containers and safe objects to fill and dump

• toy trucks, boats, trains, animals, and people (multi-ethnic)

• shape sorters

• peg boards

• stringing beads

• sewing cards

• thing to fill and dump

• toy trucks, boats, trains, animals, people from various cultures

Simple to complex puzzles provide manipulative and intellectual stimulation.

• simple 2-8 piece puzzles: wooden inlay with pegs, varied materials

• puzzles: wooden form, wooden inlay, multi-textured, cardboard, rubber and sequence

Children of all ages benefit from playing both indoors and outdoors each day. Outdoor play should not be limited to large motor activities. Expand outdoor activities to include dramatic play, sand and water, art and games. Include “loose parts” such as boxes, planks, and fabric pieces, which can be used to transform the outdoor play area. Child care equipment such as climbing structures and swings help to develop coordination and balance, as well as strengthening leg, arm and back muscles. child care supplies