Have you ever walked in front of a children’s park and feared for the small users’ safety and fun? I have, more than a few times. Although I am sure that most parks are well-intended, sometimes I wonder: how could they have been approved in the first place? The most easily identifiable element that has a questionable role in an environment for youth are decorative rocks. Often placed around sandboxes, I can only associate them with injuries to be had when tripping on a toy. They can of course be used as platforms for spatial vehicles or even as a scene for Barbie’s next performance, but their use remains limited.
Functionality and play: these are what should be the priorities when building for children. Yes, safety is necessary, but too much safety is limiting the development of youth (Kambas et al., 2004; Canadian Public Health Association, 2019). A controlled amount of danger teaches children to find solutions on their own, which is why German playgrounds are increasingly adding risk into their new constructions (Oltermann, 2021). A surprising example is the Triitopia climbing tower, which has a height of no less than 10 meters (2021). The element of fear is what makes it successful: children are more cautious and therefore reduce risk themselves.
New heights can be challenging, but more complexity is needed to foster imagination. The usual swing and slide sets offer few options for creativity. Unfortunately, safety often rimes with boring. This is where functionality can make a difference: a variety of games and uses, which can be utilized by both youth and adults, encourage play and intergenerational interactions. This new trend in urban planning is supported by the eleventh group from the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (Butts, 2018). Providing game options while outside does not counter imagination but rather promotes it, along with the pleasure of the outdoors. When working on projects for youth, you must ask yourself: would I have enjoyed playing in this structure as a child? If the answer is yes, then you must be on the right path.
References
Butts, D. M. (2018). ‘Intergenerational sites: new trends in urban planning, global trends and good practices from the US and beyond’. United Nations. https://www.un.org/development/desa/family/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2018/05/2.pdf
Canadian Public Health Association. (2019). ‘Risk, Hazard, and Play: What are Risks and Hazards?’. https://www.cpha.ca/risk-hazard-and-play-what-are-risks-and-hazards
Kambas et al. (2004). ‘Accident prevention through the development of coordination in kindergarten children. Deutsche Zeitschrift für Sportmedizin 55(2):44-47. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289942013_Accident_prevention_through_development_of_coordination_in_kindergarten_children
Oltermann, P. (24 October 2021). ‘Learning the ropes: why Germany is building risk into its playgrounds’. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/24/why-germany-is-building-risk-into-its-playgrounds