new guide to universal design
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has published a new guide to universal design for neighborhoods, streets, parks and plazas, playgrounds, and public gardens. Read more
barriers to outdoor play
One of the big barriers to outdoor play is caregivers’ fears that something awful is going to happen to their child. But the injury statistics show it’s never been a safer time for kids. The likelihood of a serious injury is really minor and the benefits of kids getting outside to play are so major! Read more
revolutionised playground design
From ball pits to water slides, Eric McMillan revolutionised playground design in the 1970s. Why has the spirit of experimental play that he championed been lost? Interesting look at play before the safety era of the 1980s. Read more
Wiffle Ball history
The 2019 World Wiffle Ball Championship was played last month. The Wiffle Ball has saved players’ arms and more than a few windows since its introduction in the 1950s. Read more
safetyism
A culture of “safetyism” is burgeoning in America. By chronicling the rise of safe spaces, trigger warnings, and helicopter parenting, the author of “The Coddling of the American Mind” cautions against “an obsession with eliminating threats (both real and imagined).” Read more
Little League World Series
Most U.S. towns qualifying for the Little League World Series have one concerning thing in common - income inequality. Between 2015 and 2019, approximately 90% of the American teams playing in the series came from zip codes with median household incomes roughly twice the poverty-line threshold. Read more
Candy Land
What an interesting history of this still popular board game! Candy Land, a game young children love and parents hate, was created 70 years ago to give kids stuck in polio wards something to do—and hope for the future. Read more
more than just how to play pretend
Make-believe companions can teach children more than just how to play pretend. For children to dream up peers, they must understand that people possess beliefs and desires and exhibit behaviors that differ from their own. Read more
politics and design in playgrounds
The surprising history of politics and design in playgrounds includes the opening of New York City’s first playground in 1905 where 20,000 kids thronged the gates on opening day pushing aside the policemen. Great historical article! Read more
play-rich education
The U.S. can learn a big lesson from Finland’s education system. Well-being and joy are the emphasis where students are immersed in a play-rich education that goes all the way to high school. Read more
