Beautiful vintage photo from National Geographic, by W. Robert Moore, of play in Korean c. 1931.
We have come to think of a seesaw as something to sit on. But this form, seen not just in the Orient but also in Victorian playspaces, is really about jumping. Its low profile to the ground removes some of the safety concerns that have grown up around ‘seated’ seesaws, and I’d like to see playmakers thinking about using these jumping boards more often.
A creative playground is only half a creative space; it’s also a creative attitude. And we’re changing attitudes as much as we’re changing spaces.
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Because it’s difficult to find non-commercial playground information. And I find that frustrating.
Because a playground doesn’t have to cost a million bucks and come in a box. In fact, it’s better if it doesn’t.
Because playgrounds are under-recognized as an artistic medium.
Because everybody loves a playground.
Interplay between the object and the child makes his total world — play. He exploits the vitality of his environment and draws upon his imagination to create his world.
After generations of neglect, the public playground is suddenly in the midst of a renascence as designers, sculptors, painters and architects strive to create a new world of color, texture and form.
If childhood is a journey, let us see to it the child does not travel by night.
Better a broken arm than a broken spirit.
The most interesting place in the typical playground is the drinking fountain.
I am convinced that standardised playgrounds are dangerous, just in another way: When the distance between all the rungs in a climbing net or a ladder is exactly the same, the child has no need to concentrate on where he puts his feet. Standardisation is dangerous because play becomes simplified and the child does not have to worry about his movements.
Whatever space and time mean, place and occasion mean more.
If you want to do something nice for a child, give them an environment where they can touch things as much as they want.
1969 Design for Play by Richard Dattner PDF - $8 USD Paypal |
1968 Planning for Play by Lady Allen of Hurtwood PDF - $8 USD Paypal |
1975 Handcrafted Playgrounds by M.Paul Friedberg PDF - $8 USD Paypal |
Build Your Own Playhive! Download now
Terrain and Planting for Play.
Major Fun said:
thanks, Jay, for the insight about the blankets. I was wondering what their impact would be. it makes it so much more if an invitation to play.
March 23, 2013 at 2:42 am
Jay Beckwith said:
Looks like they are using a stack of blankets as the fulcrum. This would act to deaden the force applied to the standing player and make the event both softer and safer than a rigid fulcrum.
March 22, 2013 at 3:42 pm
Major Fun said:
fantastic photo! captures the very spirit of extreme see-sawing!
March 22, 2013 at 11:31 am