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A new report from Great Britain entitled "Playgrounds- Risks, Benefits, and Choices" describes the first detailed strategic assessment of outdoor playgrounds in the United Kingdom for over a decade. The report, written under the direction of noted …

Hey Mister! Tell Miss ... not to put the swings back. They just get in the way." This was the excited proclamation of five young boys, breakdancing on Playmatta surfacing. As a result of the pleadings from the boys, the school did extend the area covered …

When bullying occurs, the most likely venue, especially in primary schools, is the school playground. This illustrates the darker side of recess." Whitney and Smith (1993) Outdoor play environments are social places. Children take advantage of the free …

Building playgrounds and constructing playground equipment is a satisfying undertaking. For those of us who install playgrounds professionally, watching the children who finally get cut loose to play on their new equipment, is the most gratifying moment …

I believe that most people who enjoy their work in the playground industry have a reason for taking an interest in the safe, free play of children. It may be mostly for the money, although there are other professions that are more lucrative than most play …

You can find them at the local used car lot or the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. You can use them for corporate retreats or family reunions. The inflatable industry includes more than the backyard bouncer that you rent on a Saturday afternoon for your …

In fact, in one way or another, it has been around from the time the first person walked on dry ground, was hot and saw some water. I personally started playing in the sprinklers at my house about the time I could run as fast as I could through the …

"Hey Mom, please sit over there, I want to play and can do it myself." That's our little friend Matthew telling his mother, Sue, that he wants to play with his friends without her by his side. That has to be tough for Sue, because Matthew has, until now, …

There is far more to the St. Louis Zoo than polar bears, lions, tigers, and zebras. There is an interactive lifetime learning experience for children of all ages. In addition to being one of the foremost animal zoos in the world, the St. Louis Zoo has an …

You might say that John Preston's Iife has been devoted to making the world safer for children. He has worked on numerous projects as a mechanical engineer at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), almost all of which were during the 25 years …

Just over a decade ago, the use of poured-in-place rubberized safety surfacing for playground use was heralded as the Cadillac of surfacing choices. Besides fulfilling all ADA and CPSC compliance requirements, the color choices offered had playground …

Until recently, playground information has been tough to get a hold of. Information before 1970 is vintage and obsolete. Today we find playground information more accessible. Part of this is due to the Internet. But even more important, more research is …

"Yes, I can drive through the playground, but I can't play with the different things that are there" (Prellwitz & Tamm, 1999, 170) "I like to push him around in the wheelchair. He likes to play cops and he's the cop. He pushes me off the fence. We play a …

What is a playground? For the past few months, that question has been nagging at me. I know what others say it is and what others say it isn't. I understand some of the basic structures that one is made of. I even know of the amenities that complete the …

With the increase in childhood obesity in the United States, there has also been an increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in school-aged children. Organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Diabetes Association …

In many parts of the county, we find that parks and playgrounds have not received much use in the last four or five months due to the falling snow and frosty temperatures. But now, the ice is melting and the air is warming. Warm temperatures and sunshine …

There is a need to try to satisfy everyone. Whether you are a parks and recreation professional, a school administrator or any of countless after-school programs, there is always a desire to find low-cost activities that appeal to a wide range of people …

It doesn't take rocket science to help mainstream children with developmental delays turn into useful, productive members of society. It just takes dedication, commitment, a healthy measure of human kindness, recreation, a vast amount of love and …

Almost everyone agrees that the world changed forever after the tragic events of September 11. But what do we tell the children? How do we explain that a road to their favorite playground is now blocked off and no longer available for use? How do we …

It was the same ear-piercing plea I would hear every time a Barbie commercial would come on television. But a Barbie I could afford; A Barbie I could go get. A trip to Disneyland? Now that's a different story. Getting to California from Idaho is much …

Studies show that brain stimulation produced during play significantly contributes to the growth and hardwiring of neural circuitry and that play deprivation results in biological regression of brain development. Other studies indicate that play prepares …