ball pit

{{Short description|Padded box or pool filled with small colorful hollow plastic balls}}

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A ball pit (originally called a ball crawl, also known as a ball pool or ball pond) is a padded box or pool filled with small colorful hollow plastic balls generally no larger than {{convert|3|in|cm}} in diameter. They are typically marketed as recreation and exercise for children.

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They are sometimes found at nurseries, carnivals, amusement parks, fun centers, fast-food restaurants, and large video arcades, frequently incorporated into larger play structures such as mazes, slides and jungle gyms. They may be rented for parties, and smaller versions are sold for home use.{{Cite web |last=Imad |first=Zainab |date=2022-04-16 |title=Discover the Perfect Age for Ball Pit Fun {{!}} TeddyCounty |url=https://teddycounty.com/what-age-is-a-ball-pit-for/ |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Teddy County |language=en-US}} Ball pits are also sometimes used in therapy and educational settings, as they can provide a stimulating and sensory-rich environment.{{cite web|url=https://teddycounty.com/foam-ball-pit-safe-or-not/|title=Foam Ball Pit Safe or Not|date=January 30, 2023|website=Teddy County|access-date=March 24, 2023}}{{Better source needed|date=March 2023}}

Age for ball pit

Generally, ball pits are considered safe and enjoyable for children who are at least 10 months old and able to sit up and move independently. At this age, they have better head and neck control, reducing the risk of accidental suffocation in the ball pit.

History

Eric McMillan is credited with creating the first ball pit in 1976 at SeaWorld Captain Kids World in San Diego, US as a result of his experience at Ontario Place in Canada.{{cite news |last1=Goukassian |first1=Elena |title=A brief history of the ball pit |url=https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/4/4/18292466/ball-pit-history-playground-plyplce-soft-play |accessdate=4 April 2019 |work=Vox |date=4 April 2019 |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404115728/https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/4/4/18292466/ball-pit-history-playground-plyplce-soft-play |url-status=live }} However, IKEA claims that they had a ball pit in the early 1970s in Kungens Kurva, Sweden.{{cite web |title=IKEA in Stockholm |url=https://ikeamuseum.com/en/digital/the-story-of-ikea/ikea-in-stockholm/ |website=ikeamuseum.com |access-date=27 May 2023}}

Urban legends

Beginning in the late 1990s, a number of urban legends arose about children being severely injured or killed in ball pit encounters with vipers{{cite web|url=http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blsnakes.htm|title=Snakes in the Ball Pit - Urban Legends|publisher=|accessdate=4 October 2016|archive-date=26 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826015504/http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blsnakes.htm|url-status=live}} or hypodermic needles.{{cite web|url=http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blneedle.htm|title=Needles Hidden Under Gas Pump Handles Are an Urban Legend|publisher=|accessdate=4 October 2016|archive-date=26 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826022313/http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blneedle.htm|url-status=live}} There is no truth to these stories.{{cite web|url=http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20010831/bounce-carefully-in-ball-pit#1|title=Bounce Carefully in the Ball Pit|publisher=|accessdate=4 October 2016|archive-date=6 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006032917/http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20010831/bounce-carefully-in-ball-pit#1|url-status=live}}

See also

References

{{Commons category| Ball pits|Ball Pits}}

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Category:Play (activity)

Category:Entertainment

Category:Balls

Category:Sensory toys