play
Play to Learn, The Importance of Recess in Education
As Children Return to School, A Reminder that Daily Play Makes a Measurable Difference Since the early days of one-room school houses, recess has been an important part of education. In those early times, there was often an informal period of play before and after school, in addition to…
Limitless Fun, The Impact of Rick Henke’s Approach to Playground Creation
Playgrounds Were Nothing New, Until Goric’s Founder Helped Change the Game It all comes down to perspective. Children explore a world much different than the ones inhabited by adults. Everything is bigger and harder to reach. As a child, it can often seem that adults spend their time telling you what not to…
Fun Came First: A Brief History of Playground Equipment in America
From Vacant Lots to Modern Marvels, Playgrounds Have Come a Long Ways It is relatively easy to conjure memories of days spent following the lead of our own imagination as we played on the neighborhood playground equipment. We soared into the air, climbed our way to triumph, raced down…
The Playground Equipment Designs of Peter Heuken
The German Playground Designer Peter Heuken traces the beginnings of his world-renowned work to the age of five. That’s when he received his first real tool kit. It is not usually recommended to give sharp blades and other adult tools to someone barely past the toddler stage of life. Luckily, Mr. Heuken was…
PLAYGROUNDS FOR ADULTS – THEY SHOULD PLAY TOO!
These Twelve Parks for Grown-Ups Offer the Benefits of Play and a Good Time We are all lucky to live in an age of expansive play. Adult playgrounds and similar facilities are available throughout the U.S. for most anyone’s enjoyment and benefit. Each one serves as evidence that playgrounds,…
Honoring Play Enthusiasts: Friedrich Froebel, Gift Play
Friedrich Froebel is the “father” of the kindergarten concept. Froebel studied the natural sciences as well as architecture and had a profound understanding of the interconnectedness between the two disciplines. Under the direction of Anton Gruener, headmaster of the Pestalozzian Frankfurt Model School and in reflection of the teachings of Johann…
True Tree Houses
Over the years we have seen all kinds of play structure and some of the most creative and artistic have been found in Germany and throughout Europe. I’d like to share some pictures of really unique tree houses. I don’t foresee them on any North American public playgrounds any time…
Why do Playgrounds Get Boring?
There was a park and a small playground behind the house that I grew up in. It was a typical playground of the 60’s and 70’s: Swings, see saws, and a free-standing slide. I loved this playground; I spent endless hours swinging on the swings when the swings weren’t twisted…
Not Up to Playground Standards? My Confession as a Playground Aunt
According to ASTM 1487 & the CPSC, we have two age groups for playground standards: 2-5 and 5-12. In addition, they have recently introduced another standard for playground manufacturers for 6-23 month-olds. In short, the playground standards are based on anthropometric data (comparative sizes/measurements of children at age 2, 5 &12),…
Outdoor Table Tennis
Get out your ping-pong paddles (say that 5 times in a row!) and let’s play some table tennis! Perfect for all ages and a nice change to play this game outside. We are now offering these amazingly durable and attractive ping-pong tables. The table top is made of Polymer concrete…
Cool Slides – for Architecture, Art & Fun! Part 2
By popular demand, we are posting more slide installations from our very innovative slide manufacturer! MSU Zagreb (Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb, Croatia), 2009 Height – 11.65m (45’10”); 2 Stainless steel tube slides with a clear top cover 28th São Paulo Art Biennial – Brazil, 2008 Slide height – 14m (55′);…
Playground Equipment: What to look for
My favorite type of play equipment: Where the adult (such as myself) can climb and play alongside their child; Not just in a supervisory role but having fun themselves as well. Many years ago I went to a park where there was a huge play structure; I think it looked…
