Loose parts play kit SNUG is proving a hit with children at the largest indoor play centre in the UK.
The Riverside Hub, a new 30,000 sq ft activity centre in Northampton, features 20 zones packed with games, puzzles and activities and aims to promote learning and imagination through play.
SNUG, which comprises a family of large-scale, modular play elements can be used in any combination and appears in the centre’s ‘Activity Zone’.
“SNUG is incredibly popular as it’s something new and exciting – children haven’t seen anything like it before,” says Lorraine Murphy, General Manager at the Riverside Hub. “They love making different courses to jump and climb over, and get ideas from each other of different ways to use the kit.
“The play equipment also enables parents to interact with their children – we’ve seen a lot of dads getting involved in creating obstacle courses.”
Staff at the Riverside Hub arrange the SNUG equipment in a different way each morning, but encourage children to move it into new, creative positions. Children can therefore create their own dynamic playscapes where they can explore and learn.
“The great thing about the equipment is that it always ends up in a completely different position at the end of the day – no two days are the same,” adds Lorraine.
SNUG also features on a huge mural on the wall in the Activity Zone, highlighting its exciting colours and shapes.
As well as being used in free play, it will be featured in activities such as toddler gymnastics classes.
Andrew Love from Sutcliffe Play, manufacturer of SNUG, says: “The Riverside Hub is a fantastic new play centre which really encourages creative play in children. It’s great to see that children are embracing SNUG, making use of its colourful, modular elements to explore new ways to play and interact.”
SNUG comprises large-scale, durable play elements which can be rearranged by children to create new playscapes, encouraging imaginative, cooperative play. The kit comprises the following modular elements:
- LOOP: Made up of modular elements, the Loop can be used to construct curved play structures to encourage balancing games and create areas for socialising.
- CONE: The Cone provides a meeting point and introduces a vertical structure to the playground. It can be jumped onto and hidden behind and is created from tactile foam, making it perfect for hugging and bouncing off.
- BUMP: Perfect for jumping off, bouncing on or rocking and spinning on, the Bump can be used to create pathways or linked to other elements using Noodles.
- WAVE: This versatile building units has two distinct sides – a softer waved surface and a hard. flat side. Together they can be used to create platforms for performing and dancing, lounging areas, raised walkways, barriers and walls.
- WALL: Versatile and flexible, the Wall can be used horizontally and vertically. Children can stand it on its side to create a curved wall or a den, turn it on its back to become a rocking cradle, or place it on its feet to become a tunnel or raised walkway.
- NOODLE: Offering unlimited possibilities, the Noodle can be used for connecting and building.
- MOUND: The Mound helps children experience different levels, slopes and terrains. It dramatically transforms a playground landscape, creating small humps, large hills, extended ridges and valleys.
- PAD: Perfect for teaming with other elements, the Pad provides a robust but soft base for the spider as well as the roof for the Loop circle or walls.
- SPIDER: A versatile sculptural element made from light, durable foam material, the Spider can be used alone to create shapes or plugged into other elements including the Pad to create a safe haven.
