Monkey Bars going back to school at Treetops Montessori
Treetops Montessori School in Darlington, Western Australia, installed a massive Funky Monkey Bar configuration during the summer holidays so its students can climb and clamber and build gross and fine motor skills that are so important to the development of children in and out of the classroom.
The 125sqm lime green Funky Monkey Bar features five monkey bars at varying heights, two flying foxes, cargo nets, dip and gym bars and ninja gravity grips for all the budding Darlington Ninja Warriors.
Treetops Montessori Principal Peter Maclean said, “Outdoor play is an important part of our Montessori education as we want our children to be active and healthy.
“The new monkey bars have provided a range of options for students to play, exercise and have fun. They can problem solve, play in teams, utilise their upper and lower bodies and the system allows for activity from the passive to the very active,” Peter said.
“The students are creating their own games as they utilise the different challenges available as part of the new monkey bar playground.
“We are so pleased with our new playground. It represented excellent value for money, the students and parents love it. There is a wider range of play challenges for both high school and primary students. It is wonderful seeing them all play together.
“Shane and his team at Funky Monkey Bars were great to work with, from design advice to installation, the project ran smoothly,” Peter said.
Director of the Western Australian playground manufacturer Funky Monkey Bars, Shane Roberts said, “Principal Peter Maclean and the staff of Treetops Montessori School had a great vision for a climbing structure that would suit all kids, of all abilities, in play that will challenge them.
“The students of Treetops Montessori School are the best advocates for outdoor play and they’ve been giving their Funky Monkey Bars a seriously good workout since the first day back at school,” Shane said.
Funky Monkey Bars are becoming increasingly popular with Australian families for backyard playgrounds and that popularity is now spilling into the schools of the local playground company’s fans.
“Referrals into schools is coming from parents who have a Funky Monkey Bar in their backyard, who also sit on school committees and see the strength, quality and affordability of Funky Monkey Bars as a possibility for their local school,” Shane said.
“All Funky Monkey Bars, including those in backyards, are built to Australian commercial playground safety standards.
“Parents and teachers - and very often occupational therapists - want to encourage school-aged kids to try the monkey bars as it builds strength and resilience in kids,” Shane said.
“When kids conquer the monkey bars they feel they can conquer anything. It’s like a rite of passage in the school yard and we remember that from when we were kids, we’ve seen it in our own kids and we want that euphoric feeling to be experienced by all kids.”
