The Orokawa Playground
Purpose
It is important for ALL children to have a variety of sensory experiences for healthy development. These include experiences that involve movement (vestibular system), climbing (proprioceptive system), and a mix of tactile, visual, and auditory experiences.
Our new playground has a diverse mix of sensory experiences that can be used to complement your child’s learning experiences at Transformation Academy.
Overall, this playground has many opportunities for play for any child regardless of their medical diagnosis. Your child will find their “just right” fit on this playground as it is designed to support their physical, sensory, and cognitive needs while it provides them with a world of fun to acquire new skills in all these areas. It provides them with great space to work on their socialization and self-esteem as they walk, run, roll, slide, climb, swing, and spin together with their classmates and caregivers!
The following is a summary of the benefits of different play elements located in the playground for children of varying ages and abilities.
MAIN STRUCTURE
The Netplex Climber
The Netplex Climber challenges children to constantly respond to their own movements as well as the movement of other children climbing on the net. This improves their balance, flexibility, and motor coordination. The subtle movements of the net help build overall core trunk muscle strength. Children are challenged to climb in an infinite number of ways as they move up, down and all around this unique net climber.
| Sensory Systems Engaged | Motor Skills | Cognitive Skills | Social Skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Proprioception • Vestibular • Tactile • Visual | • Agility • Balance • Coordination • Endurance • Eye-Hand Coordination • Motor Planning • Fine Motor • Core, Lower & Upper Body Strength | • Problem Solving • Strategic Thinking | • Cooperation • Social Skill Development • Imaginative Play |
Disc Net™ Climber
| Sensory Systems Engaged | Motor Skills | Cognitive Skills | Social Skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Vestibular • Proprioception • Tactile • Visual | • Agility • Balance • Coordination • Endurance • Eye-Hand • Coordination • Motor Planning • Fine Motor • Core, Lower & Upper Body Strength | • Problem Solving • Strategic Thinking | • Cooperation • Social Skill • Development • Imaginative Play |
The Netplex Climber with Disc Net Climber challenges children to constantly respond to their own movements as well as the movement of other children climbing on the net. This improves their balance, flexibility, and motor coordination.
For those who use wheelchairs and have upper body strength the design of the Netplex with the
Disc Net Climber allows them to pull themselves up into the netting and rest on the different discs found at different levels in the structure
Swiggle Stix® Bridge
The Swiggle Stix ® Bridge encourages children to move laterally from disc to disc working on motor coordination patterns and balance. The discs rotate as children step on them so they must concentrate and use their muscles to keep from slipping off the bridge. The rope movements of the bridge help children build core and upper body strength as they play
| Sensory Systems Engaged | Motor Skills | Cognitive Skills | Social Skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Visual Vestibular • Tactile Proprioception | • Agility Balance • Flexibility • Coordination • Motor Planning • Core & Lower Body Strength | • Problem Solving | • Cooperation • Social Skill • Development • Imaginative Play |
Spring Pod™ Bouncer
The Spring Pod™ Bouncers have internal springs that respond when children jump on them. Children build balance and agility as they jump from pod to pod to move from one area of the playground to another.
| Sensory Systems Engaged | Motor Skills | Cognitive Skills | Social Skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Vestibular • Proprioception Tactile | • Agility Balance • Coordination • Motor Planning Core • Lower & Upper Body Strength | • Problem Solving | • Cooperation • Social Skill • Development • Imaginative Play |
Wobble Pod® Bouncer
The Wobble Pods Bouncer can help children work on their balance skills as they move from one Wobble Pod to the next on the playground. They can also be a fun place to sit with a friend and wobble back and forth.
| Sensory Systems Engaged | Motor Skills | Cognitive Skills | Social Skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Vestibular • Proprioception | • Balance • Coordination • Motor Planning • Core Body Strength | • Problem Solving | • Cooperation • Social Skill Development • Imaginative Play |
Gyro Twister® Spinner
The Gyro Twister Spinner provides children with different ways that they can spin and rotate their body alone or with a friend.
It allows them to use their muscles to work with gravity to give their vestibular system a playful spin.
| Sensory Systems Engaged | Motor Skills | Cognitive Skills | Social Skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Vestibular • Proprioception • Tactile | • Agility • Coordination • Flexibility • Motor Planning • Core & Upper Body Strength | • Problem Solving | • Cooperation • Social Skill Development • Imaginative Play |
Cozy Dome®
The Cozy Dome is a unique climber that is the perfect mix of a fun climber and a cozy place for children to escape to observe others playing.
It has round openings for hand and foot placement for climbing.
These openings also provide a good line of sight for parents who want to keep track of their children hiding within.
| Sensory Systems Engaged | Motor Skills | Cognitive Skills | Social Skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Vestibular • Proprioception • Tactile | • Balance • Coordination • Flexibility • Motor Planning • Core, Lower & Upper Body Strength | • Problem Solving | • Cooperation • Social Skill Development • Imaginative Play |