Pasir Ris Park: more vestibular input anyone?

The playground at Pasir Ris Park is really my new found love. Well, I had been there many times in the last few years but stopped going about a year ago as I found other new interesting play dens. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I visited it again about a month ago. The park (especially the playground) had undergone a new face lift and new features had been added while old ones replaced, repaired and "renewed". I had to say it's the King of Playgrounds for young children now!
You can visit this royalty at http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_visitorsguide&task=parks&id=26&Itemid=73 for the map of Pasir Ris park. To get to the playground, go along Elias road and follow onto Pasir Ris Road. You will soon see the playground on your right and you may park along the road side for free.

Remember I talked about the wonderful sensation of vestibular the last time? Well, you can really get even more of this sensory input at the following equipments. A good dosage of it enhances children's ability to balance and coordinate both sides of the body. It is even said to be one of the foundation for good visual and auditory processing and hence academic skills.


The new age see-saw.




"I can sit to make this toy move back and forth and then I can stand. I can make it bounce up and down while trying to look at mummy in front. I have to try hard to keep mummy looking clear while bouncing ... I need to work my eyes really hard. Ok, I had enough. One, two, three, jump off!"


"Ho, ho, after so much moving around, I am ready to show off my balancing skills on these. Wow, it's shaky. I like standing on this beam, see, i can balance balance and then, jump off. Show you one more trick, I can walk on tip toes along the beam, arrgh, mummy, hold my hand!"


"Hmm, dun like all these big boys. They are shaking the bridge and making it too hard for me to balance. I shall try again later. When they are not around I can run really fast along the rope, I can do it without my shoes too! I can also climb along the ropes at the side and hang on pretending I am a spider!"


"You know what, this is a fun slide. It feels nice and cold and I can see myself in it. Down I go, I will show you how I can also go down on my tummy!"



" What? Time to go home? Well, mummy and daddy can walk on the pathway. I am going to walk along the big roots of these trees.... balance, balance, balance, jump!"

Pasir Ris Park - It's all about the vestibular system

Close your eyes and feel yourself moving forward, squatting down, turning around and trying to balance on one leg. The vestibular system was the sense organ that had just helped you to know where you were in space! Unfortunately, most of us did not learn that we had such an important "sixth sense" when we were in school. It's not too late, make sure your children have a good time practising using this crucial sense organ of theirs. You can do it all at Pasir Ris Park!


Swings are aplenty at Pasir Ris Park. For most part of the day, they are under the shade and if there are not so many people waiting, do let your child swing to his or her heart's content. Most children knows just how much their body need and would stop when they have enough. Stopping too soon may deprive them of ever getting to the point where their body can make sense and organise that vestibular sensation.
(If you are working with a child with autism, do speak to your therapist before letting your child "swing to his or her heart's content". For the matter of fact, do not take for surface value all mentioned in this blog as the sensory system of the child with Autism works differently.)


For those who are with children who are scared of the swings or who stay less than two seconds on a swing, try standing in front of them, go down to their level, make good eye contact and reassure them as you perhaps even just let them sit and talk to you. We can put them in the bucket swings which provide more support and play "kick daddy's tummy" as the swing gently bring their outstretched legs to touch your bouching belly.



This roly poly merry go round is great fun for the kid when he can have it all to himself. Sometimes, children need time to just explore on their own and feel how their body is going to react to all the movement challenges that this equipment is going to offer. Especially if your child is hesitant with such spinning equipments when there are many children around dictating the speed and movement of this monster, do find a quiet time of the day and encouage him to push, pull, sit, stand, crawl, sprawl on this lovely spaceship.



This piece of equipment is quite a new find on playgrounds, but it is making it's presence felt in more and more playgrounds around the island. I have seen parents puzzling over how to play with it but as usual, stand back and observe the kids and they will be teaching you tens of ways of how to play with it in minutes. For your young children, you can carry them up to hold on to the railings and they can go for a merry go round ride hanging on for their dear life with their tiny hands. Quite dangerous if you are not sure if your child's gonna have the strength to hold on for the round... unless you are going to be running around with them.
For the older kids who can reached it and make themselves hang and spin around, they are on for a whole lot of great vestibular stimulations.
So, if you have a young one and want to make use of this equipment, bring along a towel, a rope or the like and tie it to the railings. your child will have a good time holding on and running round and round, spinning the big big wheel! Lots of vestibular input and most importantly fun factor ++. BEWARE: flying ropes can hit eye and cause blindness.

I took the ZaoBao reporter for a tour to 5 playgrounds!

This article was published on the 4 August of the Lian He Zao Bao. If you are visiting this website after reading the article... I would like to extend a warm welcome to you! You are most welcome to comment and let me know how useful this site has been to you.


The five playgrounds were 1) Sculpture Park at Seng Kang 2) Hort Park 3)Sun Plaza Park at Tampines 4) West Coast Park and 5) Jurong Lake Park.



If you do not read mandarin, fret not. I will be getting a copy of this article in English and will publish it on this blog. Look out for it!

Where is Hort Park?

Hort Park is located along Alexander Road and you can find out how to get there from the following link:
http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_visitorsguide&task=parks&id=17&Itemid=73