Adventure Playgrounds
When I was growing up and playing outside, I learned on my own that mixing sand with water did not make the same product as mixing dirt with water. I discovered that breaking rocks open with a hammer often led to beautiful crystal insides. I unfortunately learned that touching different metals to an electric fence produced shocking results. I also learned that it was not a good idea to swing as high as possible and “see what happens” when I landed on my knees instead of my feet. Natural consequences, both good and bad. Nobody was instructing me to do these things. I was in my own world, using my own imagination and learning things I still remember to this day. I was fortunately provided with parents and environments to learn such things, but not all children are given these opportunities.
In the U.K. and around Europe, there are hundreds of places called Adventure Playgrounds. Instead of state-of-the-art, tested, and approved playground equipment, children would find logs, cardboard, scrap wood, hammers, axes, rope, matches, dirt, water, and mud. The idea is to allow children to use their imaginations to create their own play. They are allowed to design, build, problem-solve, and destroy using the tools they find. Items may be moved and altered each time the children visit the playground, encouraging them to create their own new designs each time they play. They can climb trees, build a tree house, play in the mud, or build their own tire swing. They will get dirty and maybe get hurt.
And that’s okay.
Parents who encourage their children to play at Adventure Playgrounds are aware of the risks and willingly allow them to participate. The playgrounds are fenced or walled-off as to not allow parents to control or intervene during play. They see the value in allowing the kids to learn natural consequences, both positive and negative. In the U.K. and Europe, there is no such thing as signing waivers, acknowledging the risks of these activities. There is only understanding and acceptance.
Much like lifeguards at a swimming pool, there are Play Workers, hired to oversee the play. They are not there to help or instruct the kids, but to watch for/mitigate potential hazards. They focus on the difference between risks and hazards. Risks are encouraged. They want children to take risks with jumping and climbing. There are risks with using hammers and nails. Lessons are often learned from the consequences of taking risks, but this is a life skill that is necessary to learn. “If I light this paper on fire, I might get burned. Oops! Ouch! That hurt!” And now they know. Hazards, on the other hand, are when the children could get hurt at no fault of their own. A tree limb that is about to break. A nail sticking out of a piece of wood. Watching for these hazards is the responsibility of the play workers. Of course, they would also be there to stop a fire from getting out of control or to render aid to someone hurt.
There are currently only seven adventure playgrounds in the United States. Unfortunately, laws exist, meant to protect children from potential harm, that make it difficult to open and run something of this nature. American parents tend to be more protective, as well as more likely to place blame when something bad happens. It’s also an expense to run a playground setting that requires paid staff to facilitate it. However, I admit to being intrigued when I heard about Adventure Playgrounds. I wonder if more would exist in the United States if more people knew what they were. Therefore, education on this topic would be a first step. Next, would be to get local communities on board. According to an Adventure Playground pamphlet, “The local community (including elected members) should be closely involved from the outset, in selecting the site, the initial development and on-going evolution of the playground. The relationships that develop over time between playworkers, children, families and the wider community are key to long-term sustainability, which in turn helps to build community cohesion.”
Several generations ago, these natural playgrounds were all kids knew. They were sent outside on their own to create their own play and they used the materials nature provided. The child’s play pendulum swung in the opposite direction by providing children with specific equipment to encourage safe, structured outdoor activity. Maybe it’s time to meet more in the middle. An Adventure Playground is the best of both worlds: Outdoor, imaginative, and natural balanced with some supervision and safety.
Kyndal Sims
Birch Psychology
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHKrH51ygok
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq8VGFymjLA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIscdRUyuXo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evTN2TLGeCo
https://eastsidecommunitytrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Adventure-playground-briefing.pdf