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In my last column I ended with this paragraph… Children fall in a course of their day whether it is on the playground or not. Falls can result in some level of harm to the individual, but falls can provide many other positive outcomes. Playgrounds provide …

In February of 2013 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) dropped wrestling from competition after the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. Fans, wrestlers, and the public at large created such a tremendous world wide response that the IOC Executive Board …

Experts representing child development, education, health, kinesiology, playground design, and child injury litigation responded to the question: Why do children climb ? Children climb for fun, enjoyment, challenge, the sense of danger, and to access the …

Over the last couple of decades many traditional playground toys such as net climbers , merry-go-rounds, and tall swings have gotten a bad rap. Toys that were considered too tall, spin too fast, or swing too high were deemed suspect and were often removed …

What kid, of any age, can resist the challenge to climb to the top? On playgrounds these opportunities often come through boulders and climbing nets. In recent years, the composition of these “challenges” has seen some innovations as outlined below. …

In recent years there has been increasing discussion within the playground industry regarding the risks, or lack thereof, associated with modern playground equipment design. One philosophy purports that playgrounds are becoming too safe , akin to sterile …

In the public domain throughout North American playgrounds, climbing is routinely one of the most popular activities. When we ask why both children and adults like to climb, play scholars cite the challenge, the ability to get to the top of a structure, …

The earth laughs in flowers - Ralph Waldo Emerson Many have written about the importance of nature far better than I ever could. However, as the first few days of summer have passed I thought I would offer a few reflections on the nature that surrounds me …

The more I think about my dissatisfaction with today’s playgrounds the more I’ve come to understand that the way we design, furnish, and maintain them is fundamentally contrary to what we profess to be our intention. We say, “Welcome, here’s a place to …

Play is good for people. Getting outside, experiencing fresh air, getting exercise, being with your family and friends… no one can dispute the benefits. Play also means different things to different people. Creating environments where the largest number …

It’s almost summer! It took a long time to get here this year, but it is finally here. For me, summer has always meant swimming, sprinklers, and sunbathing. I love water. A water exercise class has been the only exercise I have kept up with. I just love …

We recently had a very interesting event occur. One of our clients (a very large school district) requested that we test some of the surfacing that they had just installed at two of their elementary schools. This was not an atypical request, we test …

In my last column I said I was going to write about how to bring more challenge and risk into the play area without creating a hazardous condition. I talked about the need for challenge and risk and why it seems to be disappearing from our public …

With Special Guest Nancy White Ph.D. What could be more perfect for a child in hot weather than running around while water sprays, splashes, trickles and mists around you? What could be more perfect for the parent of that child than watching your child …

The lack of risk and challenge in our children’s play environment has become a hot topic as more and more risky and challenging play events are removed or not even being considered for today’s play environments. Anybody who cares about improving …

My journey into the world of inclusive play began almost 20 years ago with the birth of my son. Samuel was born with global developmental delays. Over the last 20 years, he never learned to speak or walk. However, he does love to play. One of his favorite …

As adults, one of our favorite tools to use in teaching life’s lessons to children is to do it through stories which end with “the morale of the story,” the destination that the story’s path finally leads, and the part that we want children to hold as a …

I took this picture a few years ago. I was touring my nephew’s kindergarten in eastern Germany. To me this looks like fun. Just like at the beach, the perfect combination of water and sand. My nephew evidently was the one who liked to pump the water. I’ve …

Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but playgrounds are losing their customers. Over the past couple of decades, the playground business has been transformed into the playground “industry” replete with ASTM Standards and design practices ruled more by convention …

I can feel it in my bones. There are BIG changes afoot in the world of play. Playgrounds will have to be transformed if they are to respond. Designers, manufacturers and buyers will have to make major adjustments to their thinking. Existing playgrounds, …

Imagine that you are going to a movie with your friends, you’ve heard it’s the most incredibly entertaining piece to come out in years, PLUS its in 3D, and you are so excited you are counting the days until the grand opening. The day arrives, you head to …