Public Playgrounds Are Getting Way Overdone
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This is the newly renovated playground at our local sports plex, paid for by my taxes. There aren’t any actual public records to show how much it cost to build (which is causing big ruckus), but estimates are more than a house.
That’s a 3 story playhouse/tunnel/slide complex. It looks really cool… But I wonder if these things are getting so big and intricate that it’s hurting kids creativity and ingenuity? And then there’s the whole “is it too safe” question, which most of the parents here this morning don’t even come close to grasping my point.
The Brad
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This is the newly renovated playground at our local sports plex, paid for by my taxes. There aren’t any actual public records to show how much it cost to build (which is causing big ruckus), but estimates are more than a house.
That’s a 3 story playhouse/tunnel/slide complex. It looks really cool… But I wonder if these things are getting so big and intricate that it’s hurting kids creativity and ingenuity? And then there’s the whole “is it too safe” question, which most of the parents here this morning don’t even come close to grasping my point.
@LuFins-Dad said in Public Playgrounds Are Getting Way Overdone:
And then there’s the whole “is it too safe” question, which most of the parents here this morning don’t even come close to grasping my point.
What do you mean?
BTW yes many playgrounds are "too safe". With kids 7, 4, and 2, we are playground experts around here. Found one the other day which was a gem... from the 90s probably, had a bunch of old school stuff that can really get you hurt. Sadly I read they are about to replace it.
That being said, lots of playgrounds are being made way "too cool" because it's a great way for local cities to advertise how great a place it is to raise a family there. A bit of an investment.
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Another pet peeve of mine, parents who follow/hover over their kid the whole time. I mean, if your kid is 1 and might fall off the edge, ok... but WAY TOO OFTEN I see a mom or dad following their kid and saying shit like "are we making safe choices?" or "don't go up the slide, you need to go down it" or "let johnny go first, let's take turns". I am an avid believer that you really need to let your kid feel free and figure out how to socialize with other kids.
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Another pet peeve of mine, parents who follow/hover over their kid the whole time. I mean, if your kid is 1 and might fall off the edge, ok... but WAY TOO OFTEN I see a mom or dad following their kid and saying shit like "are we making safe choices?" or "don't go up the slide, you need to go down it" or "let johnny go first, let's take turns". I am an avid believer that you really need to let your kid feel free and figure out how to socialize with other kids.
@89th said in Public Playgrounds Are Getting Way Overdone:
Another pet peeve of mine, parents who follow/hover over their kid the whole time. I mean, if your kid is 1 and might fall off the edge, ok... but WAY TOO OFTEN I see a mom or dad following their kid and saying shit like "are we making safe choices?" or "don't go up the slide, you need to go down it" or "let johnny go first, let's take turns". I am an avid believer that you really need to let your kid feel free and figure out how to socialize with other kids.
Agreed. You have to let them figure it out on their own. I'm also a big believer in natural consequences. You don't want to wear a coat to school? OK. Then they will know why they should wear a coat. They won't freeze to death.
Well, maybe where 89th lives they would.
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Haha... well we live about a mile from the elementary school. I've uttered the phrase a few times "If you miss the bus, you're walking to school" to which my wife says, "No we wouldn't do that, we'd drive you."... clearly you can tell I was born in the early 80s and she in the mid 80s. WIMPS!
As a kid, it only took one time of me eating cold chicken for breakfast the next day to be taught the lesson... finish your dinner or you'll finish it in the morning.
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