I don’t have kids, but if I did, I’d love them to be able to play in this new, experimental playground planned in New York.
I’m not one of those people who thinks that the older equipment needed changing because it was dangerous (I enjoyed climbing around on all that stuff plenty when I was a kid), but something that fuels the imagination, develops collaborative skills, and encourages children to think while they play, without even realizing it, can only be good for future generations (particularly of scientists).
January 10th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
This playground concept sounds like a great idea if your children get all the physical activity they need at home or elsewhere. In most cases, however, children get lots of socializing and collaborative skills at home while the so badly needed physical motion is lacking far behind. I am a mother myself, and while I’d probably bring my daughter to the ‘experimental’ playground once in a while I’d certainly prefer the more traditional playgrounds and parks.
Thanks for the interesting post though!
January 10th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
I agree with the above: when the article cited equipment like “foam blocks for building,” my immediate reaction was to think of how every kid has Legos or builds a fort out of the couch or whatever.
Plus I hate to admit it, but was I the only one who looked at the drawing and immediately thought how boring they would be as a kid on that playground? Interest in pulleys only lasts so long.
January 11th, 2007 at 1:30 am
Interesting, though the article is a bit sparse on details. It looks like a good idea, even in the most old fashioned playgrounds I find that kids (or at least 6 year old girls…) want to socialize and “collaborate” if at all possible, and get bored if they are forced to play by themselves, may as well facilitate that (it does not contradict encouraging physical activity, of course). It was not clear to me how unique this playground would be, there are already a lot of nice ones around (go to your local airport Mark for a good example).