Rustics Jungle Gyms supplies outdoor play equipment designed
and manufactured for the South African environment
Welcome to our latest newsletter.
Could just 40 extra minutes of outdoor play a day reduce your children's risk of developing eyesight problems? Read our story below to find out.
We also showcase another of our Tarantula Play System installations, in Middleburg - hear what Corpus Christi Church has to say about their new outdoor play area.
Happy Reading!
Outdoor play can reduce a child’s risk of becoming near-sighted!
The Issue
In the United States, near-sightedness or myopia, an eyesight issue that makes distance vision blurry, has doubled in the space of 30 years. A UK study found that nearly 50% of university students were myopic. In Taiwan, research shows an increase of almost 65% over the past 50 years. Worldwide, the prevalence of myopia is expected to increase from 2 billion in 2010 to 5 billion in 2050.
Statistics for South Africa aren't readily available but it is safe to assume that our children are suffering the same fate.
Significant increases in myopia come with a cost.
The toll of myopia
The spread of myopia causes substantial costs to the individual and society. Even small degrees or myopia increase lifetime risk of developing glaucoma, posterior subcapsular cataracts, retinal detachment and macular degeneration, and all incidences need to be treated with glasses or contact lenses to ensure that poor vision doesn’t have a negative impact on learning.
Time spent outdoors is protective
Heredity plays a big role in whether or not a child develops myopia. But it’s also clear that time spent outdoors is protective. Scores of studies show links between outdoor time and the development of myopia. Kids who spend more time outside are less likely to become near-sighted (Goldschmidt and Jacobsen 2014, Rose et al 2016).
And experiments confirm that we can prevent or delay near-sightedness by “prescribing” more outdoor play. For example, in one randomised study by He et al 2015:
6-year-olds assigned to get an extra 40 minutes of outdoor time each day were less likely to develop myopia over the following three years.
Why does outdoors play help?
Researchers aren’t yet sure. One possibility is that it provides the eyes with a break from “close work,” like reading. Lots of close work increases a child’s chances of becoming near-sighted. Another possibility is the eyes benefit from exposure to bright daylight. But either way, it looks like outdoor play is a good prescription for reducing the risk of myopia.
Protect your children's eyesight and get a Jungle Gym! Make outdoor play exciting by purchasing a Jungle Gym to entice children away from more static, close-work activities such as watching television and playing computer games.
The CorpiKidz at Corpus Christi Church in Middleburg have a brand-new Tarantula outdoor play system and they are loving it!
“The CorpiKidz are really blessed to have a play area like this, and thoroughly enjoy every moment. The structure is secure, safe and inviting to any child. When you see the expression on their faces you see the enjoyment in their hearts!"
“We are surely very impressed with the professional service and excellent quality of the workmanship of Rustics Jungle Gym's staff”.
