Water Playgrounds: The Perfect Oasis for Family Fun

Published 05 August 2024 at 10:15

Tickikids Blog Abu Dhabi >  Water Playgrounds: The Perfect Oasis for Family Fun

Dubai boasts a hot desert climate with long, sunny days and minimal rainfall, making it an ideal destination for water playgrounds! During the summer months, temperatures often soar above 40°C (104°F), making these playgrounds essential for outdoor recreation. They provide a much-needed escape from the intense heat, allowing children to play and stay cool. The dry climate ensures that water playgrounds can operate year-round without interruptions from a rainy season, offering consistent enjoyment for families and visitors alike!

By investing in innovative water playgrounds, Dubai has created safe and fun environments where families can relax and beat the heat. These spaces are more than just recreational areas; they are vital community hubs that promote physical activity and social interaction. Dubai's commitment to providing top-notch water playgrounds highlights its dedication to enhancing the quality of life for residents and tourists, making the city a premier destination for family-friendly activities.

For city dwellers, nothing beats escaping the hustle and bustle of school, work, and crowded streets to enjoy a water paradise with endless activities. It's the perfect spot for children to forge lasting friendships during their camping holiday, immersing themselves in a world of fun and games. They'll be having so much fun, it will be a challenge to get them out of the water by the end of the day. Best of all, in many locations, access to this aquatic haven is completely free! TickiKids put together a list of favourite free water playgrounds scattered across Dubai.

Image Credit: Freepik

Water play and swimming not only keep children cool and entertained, but it also offers numerous developmental benefits, making it a favourite activity during their formative years. Let's delve into the advantages of water play in early childhood and why it should be a key part of your children's play and learning routines!

Fun and Entertainment

Water playgrounds are synonymous with fun. They feature a variety of interactive elements like fountains, sprays, jets, and water cannons, providing endless entertainment for kids. These features encourage imaginative play, allowing children to create their own games and scenarios. The vibrant and dynamic environment keeps children engaged and entertained for hours, fostering social interactions and teamwork as they play with friends and family.

Water playgrounds can be enhanced with a variety of sustainable and interactive elements. Imagine play features with light and sound effects that are powered without electricity—children generate their own power to enjoy these interactive games! Steering wheels, push buttons, and hand pumps are integrated to activate various water effects, adding an extra layer of fun and engagement!

Emotional Therapy

Water play can have emotionally therapeutic benefits. The repetition of gentle movements in water allows children to relax, unwind, and gain clarity and organisation in their thoughts. Much like adults find bathing soothing, children can find water play a peaceful and absorbing activity. 

Water play is a fantastic way for kids to release pent-up energy or stress accumulated throughout their day. Vigorous activities like splashing, running through, or kicking in water help release endorphins, leaving children feeling happier and more positive while also physically tiring them out.

Open-Ended Exploration

Water play is open-ended, allowing children to explore their imagination, make meaningful discoveries, and develop problem-solving skills. They learn about cause and effect and engage in imaginative scenarios, contributing to their cognitive development. By incorporating water play into children's activities, parents and educators can support their overall development in a fun and engaging way! 

Enhanced Social Skills

Water play helps children transition from playing alone to interacting with friends. This shift from solitary to group activity provides a perfect opportunity for developing social skills and sharing creative ideas. Water playgrounds serve as community hubs where families can gather, socialise, and build connections. They offer a space for children to meet new friends and for parents to interact with other caregivers. This sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.

Kids learn to take turns, share space and tools, and practice patience. Group water play fosters teamwork and cooperation, such as working together to fill a large bucket, and encourages friendly competition, like seeing who can make the biggest splash. These experiences are vital for building friendships and meaningful relationships that benefit them throughout life.

Image Credit: Depositphotos

Wellness Advantages

Water playgrounds offer numerous health benefits. On hot days, these areas provide a refreshing way to cool off! The combination of water and play helps to regulate body temperature and prevent heat-related illnesses.

The resistance provided by water makes movements more challenging, promoting muscle development and cardiovascular fitness. Water play aids in the development of fine motor skills through activities like scooping, squeezing, and pouring water. Gross motor skills are also enhanced through splashing, kicking, moving limbs through water, carrying buckets, and running.

Water play offers a fantastic way to enhance children's balance and strength. While it may appear as simple splashing, it provides a unique sensory experience where basic activities like clapping hands or jumping become new challenges. Children can safely experiment without the risk of falling on hard surfaces. The resistance of water acts as natural strength training, requiring more muscle effort to move arms and legs through water compared to air.

All water activities enhance muscle development, motor skills, and coordination. Kicking in the water engages the core and teaches children to coordinate both sides of their body for efficient movement. Any water-based movements significantly improve children's coordination skills. Activities such as pouring water into containers or controlling the direction of a splash improve a child's sense of accuracy and control, enhancing their hand-eye coordination.

Safety Considerations

Safety is a top priority at water playgrounds. Unlike traditional swimming pools, splash pads have no standing water, reducing the risk of drowning. The surfaces are typically made from non-slip materials to prevent falls, and the water used is often treated to ensure it meets health and safety standards. Parents and guardians should always supervise children to ensure safe play and adherence to any posted rules or guidelines.

Engaging in climbing and clambering activities is excellent for children's motor development, providing them with opportunities to test their limits with varying height levels and slides. Our water playgrounds are designed to meet European safety standards, ensuring a secure environment. For instance, all steps feature a standard anti-slip layer. This means your guests can enjoy playing in your water play area safely and worry-free.

Water playgrounds are a fantastic addition to any community, offering a blend of health benefits, fun, and safety. They provide a perfect setting for children to develop physically and socially while enjoying the refreshing properties of water. Whether you’re looking to beat the heat, encourage physical activity, or simply have a fun day out with the family, a water playground is the ideal destination.