#GivingTuesday is a national day of giving.

This year, Temple Israel is dedicating all donations to making improvements to our ECC playground. Playgrounds are a vital aspect of healthy child development, providing a place for children to get a full-body workout, including exercises that strengthen their arms, legs, torso and more. There is a vast variety of physical benefits through playground play which includes improved flexibility and balance, development of motor skills, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination, improved instincts, promotion of healthy heart and lung function, stronger muscles, improved immune function, and lowered risk of obesity and diabetes

When children spend time on the playgrounds, they learn diverse skills and test their limits by trying out the various equipment. Slides, swings, climbers and more encourage kids to develop their agility, speed, strength, balance, and coordination. Interacting with other kids teaches them important lessons about social norms and how to interact with others, all of which will come in handy in adult relationships and their future workplace.

Physical activity and unstructured playtime on a playground serve as a healthy way to help children deal with their emotions and reduce stress levels. Not only can play serve as a distraction from their problems, but happiness is a natural byproduct of outdoor activities. Children experience many other positive emotional impacts when they’re allowed the freedom to play on a playground.

In addition to all those benefits, when children use their imagination and play make-believe at the playground, it teaches them social roles. Creativity also fosters a child’s ability to problem-solve and develop their personality. By using their imagination, kids can try out different ideas and identities. This helps them construct a strong sense of self, as they discover their likes, dislikes, and beliefs. Although developing self-identity will continue throughout their young life, the foundation begins with these innocent make-believe activities on the playground.