Hello,
I can’t quite believe it’s been six weeks of this already!
Thank you for sticking around,
Here goes..
Playgrounds these days are too safe
We must reintroduce risk..
In the age of helicopter parents and liability, playgrounds have become ‘too safe’.
“The stereotypical modern playground — with its bright colours and rubberised flooring — is designed to be clean, safe, and lawsuit-proof. But it isn’t necessarily the best design for kids.”
(read more - VOX)
Kids, particularly older ones, are not challenged by the equipment as is, so they are no longer using it as it was intended to be used.
Children are climbing on the outside of slides and being extra reckless in order to seek the thrill they don’t have, which is in fact more dangerous.
“If children and parents believe they are in an environment which is safer than it actually is, they will take more risks.”
“Older children are discouraged from taking healthy exercise on playgrounds because they have been designed with the safety of the very young in mind,” Dr. Ball said. “Therefore, they may play in more dangerous places, or not at all.”
(read more - New York Times)
It is an interesting perspective and is certainly counter intuitive, but I do agree that it is a good idea for natural learning and development, kids must learn to fail by trial and error.
When you are young you get hurt, you get back up, and now you know your limits.
“No amount of bubble wrap can cushion the fact that the world is perilous. The question is, how do we best equip children to deal with it?
Better to teach children to swim than to hope they never fall into a river. Children therefore need to be exposed to risks.”
(read more - The Guardian)
In order to develop fully, kids need adventure and an environment that allows just that.
“When children’s movement opportunities are chronically restricted or limited due to insufficient playtime outdoors, playground equipment that no longer challenges, or too much time sitting at a desk, we often start to see problems with sensory and motor skills, body awareness, self-regulation, and simply focusing in the classroom.”
“We need to start providing equipment that actually challenges, stimulates growth, and prepares the brain for learning.”
(read more - Washington Post)
“A playground that creates scrapes and bruises is valuable. It teaches kids how to deal with scrapes, avoid bruises, and most importantly, to be resilient. What better place to let kids get hurt than the controlled environment of a playground? I’m not talking about life-changing injuries here, only a rejection of safety theatre.”
(read more - Epiphany a Week)
This is a playground in Singapore. Design philosophy like this is very common throughout Asia.
My 10 year old self would have been in heaven.
“For decades, US playground designers have worked on minimising risk by reducing heights, softening surfaces, and limiting loose parts. But now, some are starting to experiment with creating risk: A growing body of research has found that risky outdoor play is a key part of children’s health, promoting social interactions, creativity, problem-solving, and resilience.”
(read more - VOX)
I think there is definitely an issue with modern playground design,
However, I also think they are a metaphor for how society, despite best intentions is failing kids all over our education today.
Smile 😊
Easy Jet were experiencing delays and cancellations due to a missing captain a pilot shortages.
A passenger due to fly on his own family holiday to Spain, realised what was happening and although off duty he had brought his license to the airport.
He phoned up Easy Jet and told them he’d be happy to fly the plane if it meant that his flight wouldn’t be delayed or cancelled, and they called him back immediately…
“So if you’re alright for one of your pilots to look like this today, we’ll go to Alicante, how does that sound?”
- Pilot Michael Bradley explaining to the other passengers why he was dressed in casual clothes.
Photography 📷
Think 🤔
If you swap the “W”s in Where, What, and When with “T”s. You end up with their answers.
Profound 🤯🌊
When you say ‘Forward’ or ‘Back’, your lips move in those directions.
That’s all for now 🤙🏽
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Thank you,
Guy