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"Playground” is a generic term, sometimes referring to any place where people play—indoors or outdoors, natural or built. Contemporary usage of the term usually refers to a place set aside and developed specifically for children’s play using manufactured …

It seems there are a lot of ideas going around about combating bullying, and it’s not just on the playground anymore. Adults even deal with it at work at times. It’s hard to say just what transpired in the life of a bully that makes them feel they have …

Behind his back, the children imitated Mr. Odom on playground duty:  “Keep playing like that, you guys. You make me feel young again!” “It’s fun to play with dolls, and it’s fun to run for a strong body. I saw you did both during recess. You know about …

NATIONAL PLAYGROUND Safety Institute’s (NPSI) Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Program and Exam has certified people throughout the world for just over 13 years. When this program idea was born just prior to 1990, it quickly became the main …

Cultural contracts comparing France and the USA abound, especially regarding childcare. After World War I, the French established nationwide well-funded “creches” for children birth - three years, which today are licensed and regulated by local …

Embedded within one of Brevard County Florida’s most popular multi-use recreational parks is also one of the nation’s most modern, age-appropriate playgrounds. Although owned by the city, it’s managed and maintained by the Brevard County Parks and …

Over the last 20 years, engineered wood fiber has been the most utilized surfacing in the commercial playground industry. It is very affordable, will last for years, and meets basic ADA accessibility needs. Due to its popularity, there are numerous …

Just last week, I was speaking to a parks director in the Northwest who was almost on the verge of tears. He couldn’t believe that his new skate park, which had been so carefully designed in the summer and so lovingly poured in the fall, was now showing …

I haven't thought of this old adage in years. You know, the one that goes, “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times... ” followed by a mother’s plea to a child to stay off the kitchen counter, put on his safety belt, look before he crosses …

Q. Today's fad is leaning toward rock and wall climbing. How do we complete an audit on this type of equipment? Many of the hand/foot holds protrude beyond the 3-inch gage; does this fail? Other hand/foot holds do not sit flush, creating a …

Someone once said, "One hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in my bank account, nor what my clothes looked like. But the world may be a little better because I was …

You've probably tried everything from cookie dough to selling discount cards to raise funds for your play space. They may have worked wonderfully, or maybe they weren't exactly what you needed for your area at the time. This seems to vary in different …

You may have read about the efforts of Dr. Caroline Bauer to build a special play space for the children of Chittagong in the May 2006 issue of Today's Playground If you did, you know that she had a long road ahead of her to raise the funds for an updated …

Praise, compliments, and positive reinforcement: These are universal practices that generate good behavior in children. At times supervisors may find themselves combating negative behavior instead of celebrating the good. If there is a non-compliant child …

Playground surfacing and surfacing requirements are generally considered to be the most confusing aspect of playgrounds. One has to deal with  Impact Attenuation , Head Injury Criteria (HIC), and the  Americans With Disabilities Act  (ADA). There are …

Many municipalities and school districts use the low-bid method to obtain everything from janitorial supplies to playgrounds. This practice, while generally accepted as a valid system for getting the best buy, isn't the only valid system for purchasing …