What We Need

Because Stepping Stones continually endeavors to improve our quality of services, we are currently seeking to enhance our playground to allow ALL children to enjoy outdoor play in a fulfilling and enriching way. Our mission to raise money for poured rubber surfacing, physically challenging equipment and sun shades is our first step toward improving our playground for children with and without disabilities. 

 

Why Outdoor Play?

As a children’s center that follows best practices for early child development, Stepping Stones Children’s Center makes certain that our children spend an hour or more each day outdoors for play and exercise.  While outdoors, children are developing motor skills, learning to socialize, and building healthy, active habits.  Children also have the opportunity to interact and learn from nature and experience the health benefits of being physically active while their bodies are also promoting vitamin D from the sunlight exposure. 

 

Why Poured Rubber Surfacing?

State regulations require 6 inches of mulch 6 feet from every fall zone.  The mulch must be kept “fluffed” to cut down on the risk of injuries.  Plastic “timbers” surround the fall zones to keep the mulch in place.  While important to the safety of children, these areas are problematic for many of our children.  Children who use wheelchairs or walkers to get around cannot navigate over the timbers on their own.  Even if teachers assist the children with entering the mulch areas, it is almost impossible for the children to push their wheelchairs or walkers through the fluffed mulch.  For our children who are non-mobile or who get around by crawling, being in the mulch areas is both uncomfortable and dangerous as they can easily receive splinters or be pierced by the sharper pieces of mulch.  Poured rubber surfacing would allow ALL children to navigate any area on the playground and access any piece of playground equipment. 

 

Why Physically Challenging Equipment?

We would like to add several elements to our playground to assist with the physical development of the children in our care. 

 

Why Sun Shades?

Even with all its benefits, outdoor play in the sun has health risks.  Exposure to heat and the sun’s UV rays increases children’s risk for heat exhaustion and skin cancer.  Exposure is dangerous for all children, but especially for many children with disabilities or medical conditions which may make them more sensitive to the elements.  Additionally, research shows that as few as two severe sunburns in a child’s life may double their risk for melanoma later in life.  While teachers take care to lather up children with sunscreen, sun shades are still needed to add extra protection and allow children to remain outdoors while taking a break from the sun’s intensity.  A fabric shade structure can block out 90% of the UV rays and because it is permeable the hot air can rise through it.  Because the air can move through the shade fabric, the temperature beneath the fabric can be reduced up to as much as 15 degrees.  The sun shade can improve our current playground by providing sun-protection, as well as a cooler area for outdoor play.

 

THE TOTAL COST FOR THIS PROJECT IS A STAGGERING $47,000!

 

What can YOU do to help?

 

 

We are a non-profit center so ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE!!