I grew up in the Wild West of childhood playgrounds (mid-50’s to mid-60’s). There were teeter-totters, open metal slides, merry-go-rounds, swing ropes over a canal, BB guns, and much more. It was fun. But, more important, it was instructive. As kids we were allowed to get hurt and we learned risk-taking while doing mostly kid things. In today’s kid cocoon environment, kids aren’t allowed to get hurt or take risks. As a result, I think they fail to develop a healthy notion of risk so they engage in risky behavior as older teens and young adults when the risks and injuries are significantly higher. Crashing on a bicycle as a kid is much safer than crashing in a vehicle later on and daring each other to eat a bug is much safer than daring each other to take a drug.
Sounds like the playground near my home back in the ‘50’s....
Lord, we loved it!!!!!!
Monkey bars over concrete. Tether balls hurt.
all that and a chemistry set in the garage