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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 …

The CPSC Special Study of Injuries and Deaths Associated with Children’s Playground Equipment, released in April 2001, presented some grim findings on public playgrounds. These findings are briefly summarized here: Most kids were injured on public …

In the United States today, as always, we tend to shop and investigate the best deal available always looking for the ultimate value. Value is defined by Webster as "rate of usefulness, importance or general worth." Today, we find many people involved in …

Perhaps it's just that I am noticing it more. When we set out to put together our one-year anniversary issue I didn't sit down and say, " Let's have lots of stories concerning children this issue." But somehow it ended up that way. Don't get me wrong. …

If you are like most folks, you like to have fun. It started when you were a kid. Playing always will be a big and vital part of youngsters throughout the world. Now that we are older we refer to "playing" by many other titles, but it is an important …

Today's modern playground must be far more than just a place for children to play," commented David Fleming, long-time director of parks and recreation for the city of Port Orange, Fla. "It must be a facility designed with the safety of the end user in …

It all started in 1927. It was the same year that Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs to set the Major League record for a season. It was the same year that the first movie to incorporate sound, The Jazz Singer, was released. It was the same year that Charles …

The time is now. At least that is what Michael Orelove finally said about an idea that was generated 20 years ago during a visit to Seattle. While on a visit to Seattle, Orelove came across a sundial that was located on the ground and used a person as the …

We had already traveled over 400 miles. Crayons and coloring books, Barbie dolls and candy wrappers littered the floor of our minivan like debris in a cornfield after a tornado. My four children were holy terrors as we ventured southward from the high …

The town of Centerville wished to build a park on the outskirts of town on property given to the town for a park by the Johnson family. This piece of land had a swamp that held water part of the year. The town administrators did not want the park …

All over this country, the concerns over playground safety have been growing. It has taken 20 years to fuel the movement, but there is no question that the condition of our play environment has become a major area of concern. The motivation for this …

Since the inception of ASTM standards and CPSC guidelines relating to safety surfacing around play equipment, engineers, designers, manufacturers, and others have developed a multitude of products suited to the playground surfacing industry. One of the …

0S-9 was upgraded to OSX; Windows 98 was upgraded to Windows 2000. Operating Systems are subject to recurring change. ("New, Improved. Faster, More Efficient! Easier to use, ... " well, you get the picture.) For playground safety inspectors, ASTM Fl 487 …

The greatest health risk facing children today is not a terrible disease like leukemia or an unthinkable trauma like abuse. It is obesity. Recent statistics show that the number of obese and overweight children is increasing. The National Center for …

As I sat watching the stern British Host of television's "The Weakest Link," I thought of what might happen if some of the people I had worked with recently were on the show having to answer questions about playground safety. In the last twenty years, …

In some ways, it almost seems to get monotonous. As the construction crew set up the new play equipment at a build I attended with our resident photographer, I noticed shouts of appreciation coming from a group of children that eagerly watch the …

In under five years, the National Playground Contractors Association (NPCA) has grown from a small group of eight members with little influence in the playground industry to a 150-member group that has increased influence throughout the industry. "At …

There is much more to a school playground than the focal play structure. There are basketball hoops and swing sets. There are open areas to play on and there are softball diamonds. But often these open areas are underused. The more popular areas often put …