Ana's school has a little dinky playstructure

[conuly]

In fairness, they have this dinky playstructure because they didn't have room for anything better.

But often I see little "safe" playstructures put up instead of more challenging ones because, well, "it's safer".

Let me tell you something. It's not safer. All that happens is that the kids play more dangerously on it in order to get something interesting out of the experience. They try to do the exact same things they'd do in a better playground - except that this one isn't *designed* for that, so it's not as safe as it should be. Or it's so small that they don't really have the room to do what they want to do.

So really, you've accomplished nothing. Brilliant.

Anyway, as I was saying, Ana's school has this little dinky playstructure. And lately Ana's discovered she can Do Something Cool.

She can clamber over the banister on the stairs, onto the platform, and then climb over the fence on the platform to be actually *in* the platform. From there, she can go down the slide.

Her friends can't do this, and I just can't figure it out. It's not that hard!

All she has to do is hoist herself over a chest-height fence (on a step), perch on tiptoe on her left foot on a ledge about an inch and a half wide, lift her other leg straight up until she kisses her knee and her foot is above her head, and kinda heave herself over the fence. I mean, the fence on the platform only goes up to her eyeballs! It can't be that difficult, can it?

Somehow, her friends are unable to replicate this feat. I just don't understand it.

Comments

[sayga.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking about playgrounds recently too. All the ones in my area have removed all seesaws and merry go rounds, probably because people were suing if their kid got hurt. A kid can get hurt on a swing or slide too. Maybe one day there will be no playgrounds, just an open field...

[conuly]

http://naturalplaygrounds.com/
http://outdoormama.blogspot.com/2008/09/natural-playground.html
http://lifedev.net/2007/11/children-need-a-playground-like-this-to-foster-creativity/
http://www.steve-olson.com/child-creativity-linked-with-outdoor-free-time/

But seriously, the saddest thing I ever saw? A woman telling her two year old son that he's "not allowed to play with sticks". Not that he couldn't hit people over the head with them, or swing them wildly about, or make toy guns out of them even - no, this child couldn't even pick up a three inch long stick without being told to put it down. (He also wasn't allowed to so much as step on the dirt in what must have been his playclothes. *sigh*)

[sayga.livejournal.com]

That is really sad. Kira is so cautious, I once TRIED to get her to play with sticks... and I encourage the kids to make messes to explore whenever it is appropriate. Sometimes it's hard to let go and let them, but it's just so important! Kira covered the side of her face with marker ink the other day. I was upset because she did it to try to get a bath, when I'd already told her no, but then when I realized SHE WROTE HER NAME ON HER FACE without a mirror, I was impressed and we took pictures and laughed with her. She was pretty proud. So was I. Then I had her wash her face in the sink, rather than "winning" and getting the bath. Kids are crazy.

[conuly]

*laughs*

Sometimes, you have to laugh. Stern doesn't *always* work.

[sayga.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking about playgrounds recently too. All the ones in my area have removed all seesaws and merry go rounds, probably because people were suing if their kid got hurt. A kid can get hurt on a swing or slide too. Maybe one day there will be no playgrounds, just an open field...

[conuly]

http://naturalplaygrounds.com/
http://outdoormama.blogspot.com/2008/09/natural-playground.html
http://lifedev.net/2007/11/children-need-a-playground-like-this-to-foster-creativity/
http://www.steve-olson.com/child-creativity-linked-with-outdoor-free-time/

But seriously, the saddest thing I ever saw? A woman telling her two year old son that he's "not allowed to play with sticks". Not that he couldn't hit people over the head with them, or swing them wildly about, or make toy guns out of them even - no, this child couldn't even pick up a three inch long stick without being told to put it down. (He also wasn't allowed to so much as step on the dirt in what must have been his playclothes. *sigh*)

[sayga.livejournal.com]

That is really sad. Kira is so cautious, I once TRIED to get her to play with sticks... and I encourage the kids to make messes to explore whenever it is appropriate. Sometimes it's hard to let go and let them, but it's just so important! Kira covered the side of her face with marker ink the other day. I was upset because she did it to try to get a bath, when I'd already told her no, but then when I realized SHE WROTE HER NAME ON HER FACE without a mirror, I was impressed and we took pictures and laughed with her. She was pretty proud. So was I. Then I had her wash her face in the sink, rather than "winning" and getting the bath. Kids are crazy.

[conuly]

*laughs*

Sometimes, you have to laugh. Stern doesn't *always* work.