The playground of the future? Virgin Media O2 opens an interactive adventure park in London where the swings and slides are transformed into musical instruments as children play on them

Want to get your kids off their computer and into the great outdoors? A high-tech playground might do the trick.

Virgin Media O2 has opened an interactive adventure park in London that allows children to make music while playing on the equipment.

The swings, slides and climbing frames at ‘The Connected Playground’ are equipped with sensors, pressure pads and infrared beams which track the child’s movements.

Each piece of apparatus adds a different layer to a unique piece of music as they make their way around the course, and their interactions alter its pitch and tempo.

The track can be heard through speakers dotted about the park, and then downloaded to be taken home. 

The swings, slides and climbing frames at ‘The Connected Playground’ are equipped with sensors, pressure pads and infrared beams which track the child’s movements

All the play equipment, currently set up in King Square Gardens in Islington, is connected by gigabit broadband and 5G mobile networks.

Research from Virgin Media O2 shows that 64 per cent of British parents are concerned that their kids are not getting enough outdoor stimulation.

A study from the University of Cambridge found that only 53 per cent of six-year-olds in England get an hour of vigorous exercise a day – the amount recommended by the NHS.

Indeed, the amount of time children spend on screens each day rocketed by more than 50 per cent since 2020 – the equivalent of an extra hour and twenty minutes.

The new playground was inspired by these findings, believing that the future of play involves a combination of technology and the great outdoors. 

Gareth Malone, celebrity choirmaster and parent, has endorsed the idea.

He said:  ‘Our children live in a connected world of gadgets and gizmos. It’s the world they’ve grown up with. 

‘I think it’s vital to entice young people outside to engage with a style of play that excites them and that reflects their style of play. 

‘Virgin Media O2’s Connected Playground is a great example of that. It uses technology, lighting, sounds and musical elements to provide a sense of achievement which all children strive for in play. 

‘I am intrigued to see what else can be done with future technologies and connectivity.’ 

All the play equipment, currently set up in Kings Square Gardens in Islington, is connected by gigabit broadband and 5G mobile networks

Numerous studies have shown the benefits more time outdoors has on children, improving their happiness, health, eyesight and even school work

Numerous studies have shown the benefits more time outdoors has on children, improving their happiness, health, eyesight and even school work.

Dr Sam Wass, child psychologist and expert on Channel 4’s Secret Life of 4 and 5 Year Olds, said: ‘The scientific evidence is overwhelming now that spending time outdoors has both immediate and long-term benefits for children’s concentration and mood. 

‘But encouraging this as a parent can be hard, because children’s expectations and what they get from digital play are constantly evolving. 

‘New hybrid environments, such as Virgin Media O2’s Connected Playground, may in future play a vital role in encouraging children to embrace technology in outdoor settings, and help provide children with the tools they need to think and play creatively.’

The Connected Playground is open all day today and tomorrow. To find out more or book a slot, please click here.