Why safe playgrounds aren't great for kids

Summary

The video script explores the concept of adventure playgrounds, which contrast with traditional playgrounds by offering children a space to engage in riskier play with real tools and materials. Originating from Copenhagen, these playgrounds were designed to foster creativity and self-confidence in children by allowing them to make decisions and overcome challenges. The script discusses the importance of controlled risk and the benefits of such playgrounds, including increased physical activity and improved risk detection, creativity, and self-esteem. Despite criticism and the prevalence of overly safe playgrounds in the US, adventure playgrounds are gaining popularity as a means to introduce more unstructured play and address the shortcomings of traditional playground design.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Adventure playgrounds are designed to let children take more risks, which is a debated concept in play architecture.
• 🏗️ These playgrounds feature raw materials like old tires and wood planks instead of traditional plastic play structures.
• 👶 The idea behind adventure playgrounds is to foster self-confidence in children by allowing them to overcome risks.
• 🇬🇧 Marjory Allen, a British landscape architect, introduced the concept of adventure playgrounds after visiting Copenhagen.
• 👦 Carl Theodor Sorensen created the first 'junk playground' in Copenhagen, where children could play with building materials and tools.
• 🌍 Adventure playgrounds have become a global phenomenon, spreading to various cities across the world.
• 🔨 Controlled risk is a key element in the design of adventure playgrounds, distinguishing between hazards and manageable risks.
• 🧩 Six categories of controlled risk include heights, speed, tools, dangerous elements, rough play, and the ability to get lost.
• 🚫 Separation of space is important, keeping parents out to allow children to explore and discover on their own.
• 🛠️ Loose parts such as planks and barrels are used to encourage risky play and experimentation.
• 🤷‍♂️ Despite criticism and concerns about aesthetics and maintenance, adventure playgrounds promote physical activity and have been linked to benefits in risk detection, creativity, and self-esteem.

Q & A

What is an adventure playground?

An adventure playground is a type of playground that does not feature conventional plastic play structures. Instead, it offers raw materials such as old tires, wood planks, hammers, and nails, allowing children to engage in risky play and learn through exploration and creativity.

Why are adventure playgrounds considered healthier and safer for kids?

Adventure playgrounds are considered healthier and safer because they allow children to take calculated risks, which can lead to a sense of self-confidence and accomplishment. This type of play encourages children to assess risks, make decisions, and learn from overcoming challenges.

Who was Marjory Allen and what was her contribution to adventure playgrounds?

Marjory Allen was a British landscape architect and children’s welfare advocate who visited Copenhagen in 1945 and was inspired by Carl Theodor Sorensen's 'junk playground' concept. She introduced similar playgrounds in London, renaming them from 'junk' to 'adventure' playgrounds, which then spread globally.

What did Carl Theodor Sorensen observe about children's play habits during the German occupation of Denmark?

Carl Theodor Sorensen noticed that children in his neighborhood were not using the playgrounds provided. Instead, they were playing in construction sites and bombed-out buildings, which led him to create a playground filled with building materials and discarded objects where children could play and invent on their own.

What is the concept of 'controlled risk' in adventure playgrounds?

Controlled risk in adventure playgrounds refers to the intentional inclusion of elements that pose manageable risks, requiring children to make active decisions about their play. This is different from hazards, which are unexpected threats, and it encourages children to engage in cautious and experimental play.

What are the six categories of controlled risk in adventure playgrounds?

The six categories of controlled risk in adventure playgrounds are heights, speed, tools, dangerous elements, rough and tumble play, and the ability to disappear or become lost. These elements are designed to provide a mix of challenges and experiences for children.

Why is separation of space important in adventure playgrounds?

Separation of space in adventure playgrounds is important to give children the feeling of discovering and exploring on their own. It often involves creating a physical barrier or providing amenities like restrooms, cafés, and seating to keep parents at a comfortable distance without being directly involved in the children's play.

What are 'loose parts' in the context of adventure playgrounds?

Loose parts in adventure playgrounds are manipulatable objects such as planks, barrels, bricks, and tools. These elements are used to fuel risky play and allow children to engage in creative and imaginative activities.

How does the design philosophy of adventure playgrounds differ from traditional playgrounds in the US?

The design philosophy of adventure playgrounds focuses on providing a space for children to engage with risky play and learn through exploration, whereas traditional playgrounds in the US are often designed to be lawsuit-proof, with an emphasis on reducing height, movement, and hard materials, which can result in less engaging and overly safe environments.

What are some of the criticisms and downsides of adventure playgrounds?

Some criticisms of adventure playgrounds include their aesthetic, which can be perceived as unattractive, the requirement for a lot of space, and the need for resources to staff and maintain them. Additionally, there is always an opportunity for injury, although studies have shown that children who engage in risky play can develop better risk detection, creativity, and self-esteem.

How do adventure playgrounds compare to traditional playgrounds in terms of physical activity and injuries?

Studies have shown that children using adventure playgrounds, such as those in London, are up to 18 percent more physically active compared to those in traditional playgrounds in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. Furthermore, the London playgrounds were found to be cheaper and had fewer injuries.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Rise of Adventure Playgrounds

This paragraph discusses the concept of adventure playgrounds, which are designed to allow children to take more risks during play. It contrasts traditional playgrounds with these spaces that feature materials like old tires, wood planks, hammers, and nails instead of plastic structures. The idea is rooted in the belief that risky play can lead to increased self-confidence and healthier development in children. The paragraph introduces Marjory Allen, a British landscape architect, and Carl Theodor Sorensen, a Danish architect, who pioneered this concept. Sorensen's 'junk playground' in Copenhagen and Allen's subsequent 'adventure playgrounds' in London became a global trend. The design elements of these playgrounds include controlled risk, separation of space, and loose parts that encourage children to engage in more physical activity and creative play. The paragraph also touches on the criticism and downsides of adventure playgrounds, such as their aesthetic, space requirements, and potential for injury, but argues that the benefits of risky play, including improved risk detection, creativity, and self-esteem, outweigh these concerns.

05:05

🌐 Promoting Wix for Sharing Passions

In this paragraph, the speaker transitions from the topic of adventure playgrounds to a personal anecdote about creating a website using Wix. The website is a collection of unappealing and disheartening playground images, such as those located next to graveyards or with slides leading to dumpsters. The purpose of the website is to share a passion for broken infrastructure or any other interest. The speaker encourages others to use Wix to create their own websites for similar purposes, providing a link for viewers to follow. It is mentioned that Wix's support helps make videos like the one being discussed possible, thus indirectly acknowledging Wix's role in the production of the content.

Keywords

💡Adventure Playground

An adventure playground is a type of playground that emphasizes unstructured play and risk-taking. It is designed to allow children to engage with natural materials and tools, promoting creativity and self-confidence. In the video's narrative, adventure playgrounds are contrasted with traditional playgrounds that are often filled with plastic structures. The concept is illustrated through the story of Carl Theodor Sorensen's 'junk playground' in Copenhagen and Marjory Allen's efforts to bring similar spaces to London and beyond.

💡Controlled Risk

Controlled risk refers to the intentional inclusion of elements in a playground that present manageable challenges and dangers, which children must navigate and make decisions about. It is a key concept in the design of adventure playgrounds, where risks are different from hazards in that they are expected and controllable. The video explains that controlled risks can be categorized into heights, speed, tools, dangerous elements, rough and tumble play, and the ability to disappear or become lost, all of which contribute to a child's development of risk assessment and problem-solving skills.

💡Landscape Architect

A landscape architect is a professional who designs outdoor spaces, such as parks, playgrounds, and gardens, with an emphasis on aesthetics, functionality, and environmental sustainability. In the context of the video, Marjory Allen is highlighted as a British landscape architect who played a pivotal role in the development of adventure playgrounds, bringing the concept from Copenhagen to England and influencing their global spread.

💡Helicopter Parents

Helicopter parents is a term used to describe parents who are overly involved in their children's lives, constantly hovering and monitoring their activities. The video mentions this term to contrast the traditional protective approach of some parents with the philosophy of adventure playgrounds, which encourage independence and risk-taking in children's play.

💡Risky Play

Risky play is a concept that involves children engaging in activities that involve an element of danger or uncertainty. The video argues that such play is not only healthier and safer for kids but also contributes to their development of self-confidence, risk detection, creativity, and self-esteem. Examples from the script include children using hammers and nails or climbing tall trees, which are seen as fostering a sense of accomplishment and responsibility.

💡Unstructured Play

Unstructured play refers to play activities that are not guided by formal rules or adult-led instruction, allowing children to explore, create, and learn through their own initiatives. The video suggests that adventure playgrounds are gaining popularity in the US partly due to an effort to introduce more unstructured play, which is believed to be beneficial for children's cognitive and social development.

💡Play Architecture

Play architecture is the design and planning of spaces specifically intended for children's play, such as playgrounds and play areas within parks. The video discusses this concept in the context of the debate around the design of playgrounds, highlighting the innovative approach of adventure playgrounds that prioritize risk and exploration over the traditional safe, static structures.

💡Separation of Space

Separation of space in the context of playground design refers to the intentional division of the playground area from the areas where adults congregate. The video explains that this design element is important in adventure playgrounds to give children a sense of autonomy and discovery. It can involve physical barriers or separate facilities like restrooms and cafés to keep parents at a comfortable distance.

💡Loose Parts

Loose parts are manipulatable objects such as planks, barrels, bricks, and tools that are incorporated into the design of adventure playgrounds to encourage children to engage in risky play. The video describes how these elements are essential in fueling children's creativity and problem-solving skills, as they can be rearranged and used in various ways to create unique play experiences.

💡Risk Detection

Risk detection is the ability to identify and assess potential dangers or risks in one's environment. The video suggests that children who engage in risky play at adventure playgrounds develop better risk detection skills, as they learn to evaluate the hazards and make decisions about how to navigate them safely.

💡Physical Activity

Physical activity refers to any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure, such as playing, running, or jumping. The video cites a study comparing playgrounds in London, where risky play spaces are popular, to those in other cities, finding that children in London's playgrounds were significantly more physically active, suggesting that adventure playgrounds encourage a more active lifestyle among children.

Highlights

Adventure playgrounds are designed to let kids take more risks.

These playgrounds feature raw materials like old tires, wood planks, hammers, and nails.

Evidence suggests that play with riskier elements can be healthier and safer for kids.

Marjory Allen, a British landscape architect, advocated for playgrounds that foster self-confidence through risk-taking.

Carl Theodor Sorensen created the 'junk playground' concept in Copenhagen, allowing kids to play with building materials.

Adventure playgrounds spread globally, transforming from 'junk' to 'adventure'.

Controlled risk is a critical element in adventure playgrounds, differentiated from unexpected hazards.

Controlled risk includes six categories: heights, speed, tools, dangerous elements, rough play, and the ability to disappear.

Designers focus on separation of space to encourage kids' independent discovery.

Loose parts, such as planks and barrels, are essential for fueling risky play.

Kids respond cautiously to risky items with serious functional purposes, leading to more experimentation.

Overly safe playgrounds in the US have not necessarily made them better; adventure playgrounds are gaining popularity.

Adventure playgrounds face criticism for their appearance and the potential for injury.

Risky playgrounds encourage more physical activity, as shown in a study comparing London and US cities.

Children engaging in risky play have been shown to have better risk detection, creativity, and self-esteem.

The standard model of playgrounds is considered boring by users, indicating a need for better design.

The narrator created a Wix website to collect and share images of poorly designed playgrounds.

Transcripts

When you imagine a playground, chances are it looks something like this.

There’s usually a slide, a bridge, and a high point with a domed roof.

That’s what makes this a playground, and this, and this.

But what about this?

This isn’t a junkyard.

It’s called an adventure playground.

Here, there are no plastic play structures – just things like old tires, wood planks,

hammers and nails.

Places like this represent one of the most debated ideas in play architecture: that playgrounds

should be designed to let kids take more risks.

Now, this nightmare for helicopter parents is the hottest new thing in American playgrounds,

because there’s growing evidence that play like this is a whole lot healthier — and

safer — for kids.

They can play with very dangerous tools,

they can take really dangerous risks and overcome them.

And this fills up a tremendous sense of self confidence in themselves, which is really

quite fascinating to watch.

That’s Marjory Allen.

She was a British landscape architect and children’s welfare advocate around the middle

of the century.

In 1945, she visited Copenhagen, where she met an architect named Carl Theodor Sorensen.

Two years earlier, during the German occupation of Denmark, Sorensen noticed a problem: kids

in his neighborhood weren’t using playgrounds.

In fact, they were playing just about everywhere else — even in construction sites and bombed

out buildings.

So in a housing development in the suburbs of Copenhagen, Sorensen closed off an empty

lot and filled it with building materials, discarded objects, and tools.

Here, kids could dig, build, and invent on their own.

The play structures were ultimately designed by the kids themselves.

Sorensen called it a junk playground — and kids and parents loved it.

When she returned to England, Marjory Allen started opening similar playgrounds across London.

And she renamed them: from junk to adventure.

From there, they became a global phenomenon.

They spread to Minneapolis, Boston, Toronto, Tokyo, Houston, Berkeley, Berlin.

And to create these playgrounds, designers had to introduce a critical element: Controlled risk.

In this context, a risk isn’t the same thing as a hazard.

When you’re climbing a tall tree, a rotten branch is a hazard: the threat is unexpected.

But how high you climb is a risk: it’s manageable, and requires you to actively make a decision.

You can break the elements of controlled risk down into six categories: heights, speed,

tools, dangerous elements, rough and tumble play, and the ability to disappear, or become lost.

And a good adventure playground includes a mix of these.

Designers also focus on separation of space.

To give kids the feeling of discovering things on their own, parents have to stay out.

That can mean installing a physical barrier — or providing things like restrooms, cafés,

and seating, so that parental experience isn’t an afterthought.

Finally, designers fill it with loose parts.

These are the manipulatable objects — the planks, barrels, bricks, and tools — that

fuel risky play.

The idea behind all these design elements is that kids respond well to being treated

seriously: if they’re presented with risky items with a serious functional purpose, they’ll

respond cautiously and conduct more experimentation.

But if presented with an overly safe, static space, they often wind up seeking dangerous

thrills that the built environment fails to provide, which can result in higher injury

rates than risky play at adventure playgrounds.

In the US, a culture of lawsuit-proof playscape design means that overly safe playgrounds

are the norm.

And design philosophy has focused on how to reduce height, movement, and hard materials.

That hasn’t made playgrounds better.

When Marjory Allen visited American playgrounds in 1965, she called them “an administrator’s

heaven and a child’s hell.”

But adventure playgrounds have recently begun to catch on in the US — perhaps due to an

effort to introduce more unstructured play.

And their construction comes with a fair share of criticism.

“They’re making kids play with hammers and nails — that’s not adventure, it's

just work.

They’re tricking kids into building their own playground.

Adventure playgrounds do have downsides: They’re pretty ugly, they require a lot of space,

and they need resources to staff and maintain.

And as with any playground, there is opportunity for injury.

But the underlying philosophy of risky play can help kids live better lives.

For one thing, riskier playgrounds encourage more activity.

A study comparing playgrounds in London, where risky play spaces are popular, to those in

San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York found that children using London’s playgrounds

were up to 18 percent more physically active.

The London playgrounds were cheaper and boasted fewer injuries, too.

And multiple studies have shown that children who engage in risky play have better risk

detection, creativity, and self esteem.

The playground is one of the only kinds of architecture designed specifically for children.

And if the standard model we’ve decided on is seen as boring by its users — that’s

a problem.

Better design can fix that — even if it’s a little risky.

I had to look through so many pictures of playgrounds for this story

that I decided to use Wix to create a website

collecting all of the ugliest and saddest pictures of playgrounds that I could find.

And now I have a perfectly curated arrangement of pictures of playgrounds next to graveyards

and slides leading into dumpsters and whatever these kid-friendly statues are. If

you're looking for a simple way to share your passion about broken infrastructure

or whatever it is that you're into these days,

you should absolutely head to Wix. To create your own website just like this, click the link below.

Wix does not directly impact our editorial, but their support makes videos like this possible.

So check them out.