Splashing Fun: Discover the Magic of Water Playgrounds
Published 10 July 2024 at 10:12
Tickikids Blog Singapore > Reviews > Splashing Fun: Discover the Magic of Water Playgrounds
What a pleasure to experience the endless summer in Singapore, where it's warm and humid all year round! With temperatures typically ranging between 25°C (77°F) and 31°C (88°F), and frequent rainfall, the treasure of free water playgrounds offers a refreshing way for children to cool off and stay active! The constant warm weather ensures that water play can be enjoyed almost every day, making it a popular and beneficial addition to any community or recreational area. It's always time to head outdoors and explore, and nothing beats the joy and excitement kids feel when splashing and playing in water on hot days. 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! TickiKids has put together a list of the benefits these water play areas scattered across Singapore offer!
Image Credit: depositphotos
Singapore is a haven for families and water enthusiasts, boasting numerous famous and well-known free water play areas. Among these, the Children’s Garden at Gardens by the Bay or water playground at Vivo City are perennial favourites. These spots offer endless fun and respite from the tropical heat.
However, at TickiKids, we believe in showcasing the unique and thematic free water playgrounds that add an extra layer of adventure to water play. We'll explore some creatively designed water play areas that promise a memorable experience for kids and adults alike. Discover 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!
Westgate Wonderland
Image Credit: Westgate Wonderland
At Westgate Wonderland, the garden-themed playground goes beyond just offering numerous water sprays. With a giant watering can that inspires children to believe in the power of nurturing for growth and strength, this playground is both fun and educational. Additionally, a convenient blow-drying station ensures a comfortable return home, making the visit a delightful mix of entertainment and learning about the wonders of the green world.
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.
Rooftop Water Playground at Tampines 1
Image Credit: Tampines 1
Located on the mall's roof, this playground offers a distinctive blend of fun and scenic views, creating a unique experience for visitors! One of the standout features of this playground is its animal-themed water play structures. Kids can splash around and interact with whimsical sculptures of sea creatures, which not only add a playful element but also ignite their imagination. The combination of interactive water jets, splash zones, and slides ensures endless fun and excitement!
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.
The Ninja Trail at Compass One
Image Credit: Compass One
The Ninja Trail at Compass One is not just a typical water playground; it's an enriching adventure that combines the excitement of water play with the challenge of a parcour trail. Designed to engage and inspire children, this unique playground offers a dynamic environment where kids can develop both physically and mentally.
The Ninja Trail features a series of obstacles and parcour elements integrated into a water play setting. Children can test their agility, balance, and strength as they navigate through stepping stones, climbing nets, and balancing beams, all while being splashed by interactive water jets!
Safety Considerations
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.