Are Safety First Playgrounds Good For Kids
A recent article in the NY Times questions the value of safety-first playgrounds vs. traditional playgrounds that featured monkey bars, seesaws, and larger wooden swing sets.
In case you’re new to this question, sometime in the 80’s towns and municipalities started to fear that the older style playgrounds were too dangerous and that protecting kids and protecting themselves from lawsuits was the way to go.
But now according to some new research concludes that the new style playgrounds don’t provide the physical challenges kids need and may stunt emotional development, leaving children with anxieties and fears that are ultimately worse than a broken bone.
As someone who as a kid logged many hours in local Brooklyn NY playgrounds the idea that modern playgrounds are too tame makes a lot of sense. And I’m not surprised to find out that the newer playgrounds with thick rubber mats or wood chips are no safer than the older ones surfaced with asphalt or concrete. Back then kids knew from experience that those hard surfaces meant business and they proceeded with caution. While now it seems that they put too much faith in the softer surfaces to protect them not realizing that underneath the cushioning is a hard surface without any give.
Years ago playgrounds were the place where you could measure yourself against your peers and engage in risky behavior that was thrilling, satisfying and educational. The first time you made it to the top of the monkey bars not only did it feel great but, you became part of a select group of your peers bold enough to engage in dangerous behavior. Play was serious business that fulfilled an essential role in building character and identity.
Relating to the question of the relative merits of new vs. traditional style playground equipment is the debate over structured or unstructured play. In my opinion playtime for too many kids is over organized. They’re enrolled in teams and activities that leave no room for decisions that make on their own while interacting with their friends and peers. Free play is becoming a thing of the past. And with it’s demise kids are missing out on spontaneous, creative decision making that helps them to grow and mature.
Parenting is a series of judgment calls. Every parent wants to protect their kids from problems and pain but at the same time we all know that by coddling our kids we’re not helping to prepare them life’s challenges.
Comments (7)
They put in a Safety First Playground in our Sub-division and i agree the concept is great and they look really nice i can't say that it reduces injuries. Nothings to soft falling from the top of a slide or tripping and going face first into the ground. And on a 100 degree day i'm sure the plastic is still hot and not as stiff as it would be on a 8o degree day. Kids are gonna get their bumps and bruises some way some how no matter how safe the experts say the equipment is.
When I was growing up, ages ago, my favorite playground was a place we called "the lots," a scruffy undeveloped plot of land, maybe 200' x 150' that was next to my cousin's apartment house. It was strewn with rocks, wood, glass, weeds and dirt. Playing ball was a challenge, almost every play resulted in a "hindu" but it was a real adventure that was a magnet for local kids. Going to "the lots" you never knew who or what you would find. It's still my favorite playground experience.
Old abandoned buildings and mattresses stacked four high in a vacant lot was our play ground most of the time.....
Sounds like fun and I bet unique one of a kind creative games and activities were created with the mattresses and other left over stuff you found.
On my block in Brooklyn it was a big deal when someone put out a refrigerator box or a roll of old linoleum.
And some of the kids who weren't great athletes were real good at coming up with games that used the junk that people left outside to be picked up.
This is an interesting post. I went to a lecture by a Danish playground manufacturer Kompan, and they were talking about the risks vs the safety vs the play value.
They showed that playgrounds with lots of safety railings were being used by kids in ways that weren't intended, making them even more dangerous. (eg climbing UP a slide instead of down, or climbing on the OUTSIDE of a safety rail instead of inside)
So they were working on ideas for playgrounds that met all the safety requirements of the law, but were not "safe" in the traditional way.
I am probably not explaining it very well but it was really cool.
Adam from http://www.dadboost.com
Adam,
Kids are creative sometimes more creative than playground designers. I think if playground designers want to figure out what works for kids they should watch how they play and take their cues from what kids like to do.
That said kids will always find a way to go beyond and test the limits of what adults intend. Which is probably a good thing.
AND!!! After leaving the playground last night we can't forget to throw in the older kids that wanna play tag using every single piece of equipment on the playground including the toddler piece that is clearly marked ages 2-5 while the parents are in the car on the phone......