Rustics Newsletter: Optimise the use of your playground equipment

Thank you for your interest in Rustics Jungle Gyms

If you use your imagination, playground equipment has many uses apart from the obvious one of play. In this issue we explore how the Rustics Jungle Gyms Tarantula can also be used for therapy and for fitness. Happy reading!

Optimise the use of your playground equipment

The Tarantula Play System is manufactured from 101mm mild steel tubing making it one of the strongest and most durable playground systems currently available. The wide variety of apparatus incorporated into this one unit make it ideal for more than just play 
•    four giant arches
•    a tyre tunnel in the centre
•    twisty monkey bars of ascending and descending loops 
•    a set of more traditional straight monkey bars 
•    a three-meter-long slide
•    two fireman’s poles
•    three hanging ropes and 
•    a giant spider’s web 

 For Play: 
This is the most obvious use, but the benefits of simple play are far reaching (see previous newsletters) for more information on the benefits of outdoor play.

The Tarantula is specifically designed to provide multiple options for movement from one side to the other without ever touching the ground. There is no obvious start and end point which gives users an opportunity for creative play, problem solving and negotiation with playmates in addition to the more obvious upper and lower body strength, gross motor and balance benefits.

 For Therapy:  
In 2009, Rustics Jungle Gyms installed a jungle gym at Active Eyes in East London.  
 
The centre uses a movement program and visual training program to assist learners with learning difficulties and as well as learners’ general academic and sporting performance.   
 
The aim was to encourage predominantly weight bearing activities to improve upper body strength and core muscle development in learners.
 
According to Loryn Nel, “The activities that can be done on the Tarantula Play System encourage focus and concentration as well as giving the learners a full strength ‘workout’. The improvement in body strength encourages good posture for writing and reading and the twisty monkey bars encourage midline crossing.

“I can highly recommend their Tarantula play system and have enjoyed immense success with the learners who attend Active Eyes."  Loryn Nel

  For Fitness  
 (not just for the kids)  
 
Several East London schools use the unit as a base for their fitness programme.  One school has a dedicated fitness period during which each child runs a pre-determined course over the Tarantula.  
 
Check out this video by Redefining Strength to get some ideas of how to use your playground equipment to get a great full-body workout. 
 
Every playground is different, but these moves should help inspire you and
provide you with ideas about how to use swings, slides, monkey bars
and ladders to design a workout to suit your needs.

Click for YouTube video

If you would like further information on the Tarantula play system and its many uses, give us a call on 043 748 5880 or drop us an email

 Parkland Special School uses it's Tarantula for therapy 

Rustics Jungle Gyms recently installed its Tarantula Playground System at
Parklands Special school in East London.

We asked Deputy Principal, Jeanette Kelly why she chose the Tarantula. She said, “We purchased the Tarantula Play System for our Autistic Unit. Gross motor activities are very important for their development and, after investigating all the options, the Tarantula was the best option. It is a very good price and it allows a good number of learners to use it simultaneously.
 
“It is exactly what our learners need. They can hang, climb and balance all on one structure rather than having many loose standing structures, which is a big space saving.

Jeanette adds, “Individual teachers take their learners to the Tarantula during gross motor periods and the Physiotherapists are using it for therapy with individual learners and with small groups, e.g. a group of learners with Cerebral Palsy.”

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