Imaginative Play Equipment

Our range of outdoor play equipment is designed to encourage imaginative play, creativity and innovative thinking. Through the use of imaginative play equipment, basic skills are promoted as youngsters explore, learn, connect to and act out different experiences. This type of role play is important for children and is a vital part of their early development.

Children learn through play and outdoor role play helps to improve language skills, social and emotional skills, and thinking skills. Playground equipment manufactured by Hand Made Places is designed to maximise the play value for children, creating a make-believe environment that supports outdoor role play and which is also full of action and adventure and sensory activities.

Our extensive range of outdoor timber imaginative play equipment offers fantastic opportunities for pretend play whether it be playing schools or shops by incorporating a playhouse, setting sail aboard a boat or going on a bear hunt around our playground sculptures and totems. Outdoor imaginative play equipment provides the tools for children to re-enact a story, to explore different situations. In this type of role play children, use the power of language to turn the playground into their own theatre, often incorporating ideas and themes from stories they have read and listened to. Imaginative play supports traditional learning too. It builds a connection between spoken and written language, preparing little ones for reading and writing as they understand the concept of books and plays.

Imaginative play equipment in playgrounds encourages problem solving and cognitive thinking skills. Engagement with other children through outdoor role play aids language and communication ability, decision making and cooperation. Through the installation of outdoor imaginative play equipment, early social and emotional skills are honed as children learn to negotiate, take turns and share as part of their games.

The benefits of role play include the opportunity for children to become someone else, to empathise and understand the reactions of others. Outdoor role play helps children to interpret their feelings, manage emotions and be more conscious of their behaviour. Joining in games and play builds confidence and self-esteem as children make friends and find common interests.

At Hand Made Places we design, manufacture and install a large range of outdoor imaginative play equipment which can encourage role play. Our products include Play Towers, Bridges, Play Houses and Castles, Stages and Play Sculptures. We offer a free consultation where an experienced playground expert can discuss your ideas and aspirations and build a play area to captivate young minds. Together we work with our clients to develop playgrounds which encourage inclusive, imaginative play among children of all ages and abilities.