Can A Playground Be Too Safe?

[Crystal]

I LOVE this article and I totally agree!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/science/19tierney.html?_r=1&n=Top%2fNews%2fScience%2fColumns%2fFindings

[SilverSabre25]

I want a little applause emoticon.

(And I want to go find a nice vintage playground and scale some monkey bars and climb a jungle gym)

[Country Kids]

I so agree with this! I think parents are instilling their fears also into their children without the children ever knowing why they are scared except for the parent telling them why. I also think the whole princess/diva thing is really ruining it for the little girls. When was the last time you saw a true tomboy and they weren't questioned about their sexuality. If you are even remotely a tomboy in this day and age there must be some underlying issues is what most people think.

[sharlan]

I agree. Kids are being denied movement in the name of safety. They aren't allowed to run on the playgrounds at school because they "might" get hurt. They took part of the playground equipment out at my granddaughter's school because the kids kept throwing the mulch, causing eye injuries.

I rarely take the kids to the park in the summer because the new rubber surfaces are so hot that they burn bare feet and knees in a fall.

My only serious daycare injury, the child tripped over his own 2 feet onto the sidewalk.

[PeanutsGalore]

I agree. Kids are being denied movement in the name of safety. They aren't allowed to run on the playgrounds at school because they "might" get hurt. They took part of the playground equipment out at my granddaughter's school because the kids kept throwing the mulch, causing eye injuries.

I rarely take the kids to the park in the summer because the new rubber surfaces are so hot that they burn bare feet and knees in a fall.

My only serious daycare injury, the child tripped over his own 2 feet onto the sidewalk.

They seriously don't let kids run on playgrounds anymore? What the heck? How are they supposed to be healthy if they can't move?

[Country Kids]

I agree. Kids are being denied movement in the name of safety. They aren't allowed to run on the playgrounds at school because they "might" get hurt. They took part of the playground equipment out at my granddaughter's school because the kids kept throwing the mulch, causing eye injuries.

I rarely take the kids to the park in the summer because the new rubber surfaces are so hot that they burn bare feet and knees in a fall.

My only serious daycare injury, the child tripped over his own 2 feet onto the sidewalk.

This cracked me up! The children weren't getting hurt on the playground equipment but by the mulch that was underneath it. Maybe put something else underneath the equipment instead of removing the playground equipment. Now that took a rocket scientist to figure out-

[nannyde]

In child care in translates into having to spot kids on equipment and having the financial liability if there is an injury. There's also the consequence thru DHS and child protective.

My state simply says "careful supervision at all times". A playground injury will be considered lack of supervision in the birth to five crowd.

With "risks" it's always the same thing. It's good when it's good. Not so good when it's not.

The cost of simple medical care now and the expectation that there are no injuries in child care is what keeps providers from taking risks.

"Sometimes, of course, their mastery fails, and falls are the common form of playground injury. But these rarely cause permanent damage, either physically or emotionally"

Decisions are based on "rarely".

[momofsix]

I think the risks that may come from playing on a playground are FAR outweighed by the risks of an underactive population such as obesity, diabetes etc.

[sharlan]

They used to have sand, but some reg said it had to be changed to mulch. The kids loved throwing it at each other. The rest of the equipment has that hot rubber padding underneath.

The kids can only run under supervision such as during pe. Everything is walk, walk, walk. How are kids supposed to burn up some of that pent up energy?

[youretooloud]

OK.. the blacktop we played on years ago... bad idea. But, all the rest, I miss too.

I loved the feeling of climbing higher... I ADORED spinning on the bars. I remember bringing a sweater to school even when it was too hot, just so we could use it to spin on the bars without getting that rash on the backs of our knees.

I know in my heart, that kids today are growing up nervous, and afraid, and overly sensitive. I saw a woman call 911 when her baby fell in the water this summer. Just fell in it... she didn't drown, or even sputter.. she just fell in. So, mom called 911. (Lady.. it's not acid.. it's water)

Did you know you can actually buy soft helmets for babies who are learning to crawl so they don't have to suffer a bump on the head?

I would LOVE to have a good old fashioned climber. I think we have taken all the imagination and play out of kid's lives. I feel bad for what they are missing now.

[nannyde]

I think the risks that may come from playing on a playground are FAR outweighed by the risks of an underactive population such as obesity, diabetes etc.

Absolutely

But....

the overweight and underactive happens over TIME and not one entity responsible.

an accident happens right now on someones watch.

that's the difference in liability.

[Country Kids]

My son broke his wrist really fractured (hairline) when he was in kindergarten. Did I become upset with the school and threaten to sue-no. Its part of growing up and being a kid. I didn't blame lack of supervision but a curious little boy that was having fun. He was actually pretty proud of it because he is the only one that did something like that in our family!

I have another little boy that has broke both arms two times each! The kid can trip and a bone breaks. Doctor says its just his bones and since he is a bouncy high struck child this is what is going to happen. Do we consider him a liability because of this?

[momofsix]

Absolutely

But....

the overweight and underactive happens over TIME and not one entity responsible.

an accident happens right now on someones watch.

that's the difference in liability.

Nan, I totally get where you're coming from in regards to liability. It's just that the way our society has become so sue happy has caused us to throw common sense out the window!

[nannyde]

I so agree with this! I think parents are instilling their fears also into their children without the children ever knowing why they are scared except for the parent telling them why. I also think the whole princess/diva thing is really ruining it for the little girls. When was the last time you saw a true tomboy and they weren't questioned about their sexuality. If you are even remotely a tomboy in this day and age there must be some underlying issues is what most people think.

We have a ton of fun doing princess here. I love the bedazzled play. I don't let the princess thing get beyond magical thnking and pretend.

[SilverSabre25]

In child care in translates into having to spot kids on equipment and having the financial liability if there is an injury. There's also the consequence thru DHS and child protective.

My state simply says "careful supervision at all times". A playground injury will be considered lack of supervision in the birth to five crowd.

With "risks" it's always the same thing. It's good when it's good. Not so good when it's not.

The cost of simple medical care now and the expectation that there are no injuries in child care is what keeps providers from taking risks.

"Sometimes, of course, their mastery fails, and falls are the common form of playground injury. But these rarely cause permanent damage, either physically or emotionally"

Decisions are based on "rarely".

can I point out though that the article is not discussing playgrounds at child care? Or anything else child care related? It's discussing the government (be it city, state, or federal) making decisions to remove the playground equipment, thus taking away the opportunity for parents to take the children there to play on the equipment and experience the risks.

Your response feels very unrelated to the actual content.