Rustics Jungle Gyms supplies outdoor play equipment designed and manufactured for the South African environment |
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Welcome to our latest newsletter. Is your outdoor playground equipment made from the appropriate materials? We were recently called to inspect an old jungle gym and were horrified by what we found - the whole structure went from free standing to a pile of rubble in just 12 seconds - check out our story about how to ensure that your Jungle Gym is built using the correct materials and watch the video. We were on DSTV this month - what a thrill. See our story below for details. Are you sure that your children are drinking enough water? We offer some fun suggestions on how to keep them hydrated. Happy Reading! |
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Is your jungle gym built from the appropriate materials if not, the consequences could be disastrous! |
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Installing a Jungle Gym should not be taken lightly – the safety of the children who play on it is paramount and not everyone who manufactures and installs Jungle Gyms spends the money to purchase, or takes the time to understand, the SANS standards for playground equipment design and manufacture. These are the standards designed to keep children safe on playground equipment. How do you know? The consequences of using the wrong materials could be disastrous but how do you identify the correct materials? Ask the following questions of your jungle gym supplier: Is the timber used treated with an approved preservative to protect it against fungal decay and pests? Are surface coatings non-toxic? Are materials flame retardant?
This video shows an an example of a jungle gym built from inappropriate materials – in this case roof trusses. See how quickly it was toppled into a pile of rubble. You would not want any children to be playing on it at the time! Contact us if you have any concerns about the safety of your outdoor playground equipment. We understand the South African National Standard by-laws, SANS regulation number 51176-1, 71176-2, 51176-3, 51176-4, 51176-5, 51176-6, 51176-7 and 51176-10; and design and manufacture all of our jungle gyms to these safety standards. |
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Rustics installation makes it onto TV |
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DRC Primary Twinsville was the lucky recipient of a Tarantula Play System, courtesy of Lottoland, and supplied by Rustics Jungle Gyms. The delivery, installation and reveal form part of series 5 episode 11 of Dankie Lottoland on KykNET, DSTV Channel 144. The programme is produced by Homebrew Films and content producer Annemie Lombard says, “Toni and the Rustics team went above and beyond. From enquiry to delivery and installation – Rustics was professional, friendly and very efficient. Thank you for the amazing assistance and excellent service.” |
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"This jungle Gym has given the children a reason to hope. They now know that good things can happen." Rochelle du Pont, Vice Head of the school |
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"There are no trees in the area and the jungle gym provides climbing and swinging opportunities that these children did not have before. They are finding that they can do things they weren't able to do before. The smiles on their faces tell the full story" Teresa Opperman - Project Leader, Hugs of Hope, Hofmeyr |
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How to get Children to drink enough water |
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Did you know kids’ bodies are 60-70% water? That may seem like a lot, but kids actually get dehydrated quickly because they lose more water through the skin when they sweat, compared to adults – they are also less aware of the feeling of thirst which is our body’s trigger to make us drink to avoid dehydration. |
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Why do children need water? Water is absolutely essential for a healthy, functioning body. It helps to keep body temperature in check, transports nutrients and oxygen, carries away waste and lubricates joints and body tissue. |
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How much water do they need? There is no single recommended intake for children, as water requirements at any one time will vary depending on age, weight and gender, climate, physical activity, body surface area and individual metabolism. As a general guide for fluids: • about 1.4 L (4–5 cups) of fluids a day for children up to 8 years, and • about 1.6 L (6–8 cups) for adolescents this includes the water content of foods as well as fluids. How to get kids to drink more water Getting children to drink enough water can sometimes be a challenge. Here are some fun and creative ways to make sure children stay hydrated: Make a game out of it! Put a water drinking chart on the fridge and add stars for each cup of water they drink in a day. This is a great way to encourage your child to drink more water. |
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Decorate a water bottle. Buy a plain, durable, BPA free water bottle or hydroflask with enough capacity to last all day if they can’t get to a water source for refills. Then, decorate it with waterproof stickers, labels and permanent marker. You could even use funky colourful straws if the water bottle has an opening for one. |
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Fruit infused water or ice cubes. Water does not have to be boring. Try making homemade flavoured water or ice cubes by: Infusing water with cucumber slices and even herbs like mint, basil or anything from the garden. Adding 30ml of 100% juice to every 220 ml of water for a hint of sweetness without the added sugar.
Make home-made, healthy ice-lollies or frozen fruit treats. · Blended frozen fruit and yogurt make a refreshing and satisfying summer treat! · Freeze small batches of sliced fruit for an on-the-go refreshing snack. Grapes, citrus slices, strawberries, watermelon, mango —the possibilities are really endless! Start the morning with yogurt, or a smoothie. There are so many ways to jazz up yogurt and smoothies to make a breakfast of champions! Layer up calcium- and protein-rich Greek yogurt with juicy fruit and low-sugar granola. Encourage water-rich foods. Children can hydrate from soups and water-rich snacks. Here are just a few ideas: Watermelon chunks—that’s 92% water, some fibre, vitamins C and A, magnesium, and antioxidants like lycopene. Cucumber slices— almost all water, some potassium, vitamin K and magnesium. Zucchini—cucumber’s cousin is 94% water, packed with vitamin c and extremely versatile. Try spiralizing zucchini and tossing it with some dressing or cold sesame or peanut sauce for a refreshing side. Strawberries— around 91% water and rich in fibre, minerals and vitamins (especially C). Plus, studies show that eating strawberries regularly can help reduce inflammation: a win-win.
With a little effort—and a whole lot of fun—your child will make hydration a part of their daily routine, and their bodies will thank them (and you!) for it. |
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(Sources: https://www.connecticutchildrens.org/summer-safety-kit/stay-hydrated-creative-ways/) |
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Whatever your playground requirements, we can help At Rustics Jungle Gyms we have been designing, manufacturing and installing wooden and metal jungle gyms since 2006. Our success is based on: safety - our outdoor play equipment is built to South African National Standard by-laws delivering a quality product at a fair price building equipment that will last - our quality and built-in resilience to the harsh South African environment give a longer life span honesty, integrity and our willingness to go the extra mile to give you what you want
Don't take our word for it.... read our reviews |
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