13 votes

Why safe playgrounds aren't great for kids

6 comments

  1. [2]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. Catt
      Link Parent
      It's not just the news. I think it has a lot to do with parents being pressured to over protect their kids by others. Stories like not being able to let your preteen walk the dog alone and such.

      It's not just the news. I think it has a lot to do with parents being pressured to over protect their kids by others. Stories like not being able to let your preteen walk the dog alone and such.

      3 votes
  2. [4]
    Rocket_Man
    Link
    The video seems a little biased for my tastes. It clearly paints safe playgrounds as a negative, saying their boring and purely administrative. They may not be perfect, but they are colorful, and...

    The video seems a little biased for my tastes. It clearly paints safe playgrounds as a negative, saying their boring and purely administrative. They may not be perfect, but they are colorful, and require less maintenance. Instead the video should have focused on the benefits of riskier playgrounds and how to incorporate that into safe playgrounds.

    I generally think kids can handle a lot more than we give them credit for. We should give them access to more dangerous and creative environments. However I'd have some concerns over letting kids have an open flame without more supervision.

    Also why is it acceptable for journalistic outfits like Vox to reference studies in their video without referencing them anywhere? I wanted to look at the studies mentioned but they make it difficult.

    5 votes
    1. [3]
      Catt
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I honestly watched it as a persuasive piece, so wasn't really expecting an unbiased view. I personally do love the safe playgrounds for little kids, but don't see how they would be entertaining...

      I honestly watched it as a persuasive piece, so wasn't really expecting an unbiased view.

      I personally do love the safe playgrounds for little kids, but don't see how they would be entertaining enough for older children. This is not a bad thing though as I feel older children nowadays don't really play at playgrounds anymore, but instead are in organized sports and clubs or playing at their own or a friend's house.

      Edit to add: source of studies mentioned are in the upper left corner as the study is being referenced.

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        Rocket_Man
        Link Parent
        Thank you for letting me know about the sources, didn't expect them there. You also bring up an interesting point though. Would it be better to create an environment interesting to a large range...

        Thank you for letting me know about the sources, didn't expect them there. You also bring up an interesting point though. Would it be better to create an environment interesting to a large range of ages or specific environments tailored to narrow age ranges?

        2 votes
        1. Catt
          Link Parent
          I can definitely see advantages to both. I really like the parks in my area. There are very small and safe playgrounds for little children, and open courts for older kids. There's no real design...

          I can definitely see advantages to both. I really like the parks in my area. There are very small and safe playgrounds for little children, and open courts for older kids. There's no real design for older kids though, which I think would be nice.

          2 votes
  3. Octofox
    Link
    My first reaction was shock when I heard there were nails in this playground but then I remembered when I was a kid my grandpa owned a block of land that had a workshop on it and out the back was...

    My first reaction was shock when I heard there were nails in this playground but then I remembered when I was a kid my grandpa owned a block of land that had a workshop on it and out the back was a kind of private junk yard full of barrels, wood, old appliances and cars. I remember we used to build up forts out of junk and throw rocks at glass. It was way less safe than what was pictured in the video and yet none of us got hurt in any meaningful way. I remember it being the best part of my childhood. We also used to drift a quad bike around the main junk pile while everyone else would throw these little wild melons at the persons helmet and watch them splatter :P

    I also went to loads of those safe playgrounds and I don't really have any memories of any of them which probably says a lot.