Amazing how people behave better when they have to think of each other instead of some rule that makes little sense.
Reminds me of the town in the Netherlands that took out all its street signs and traffic lights.
New Zealand school tossed its playground rules
31–40 of 86 posts
Re: New Zealand school tossed its playground rules
#32In London, Parkour Generations runs kids parkour classes (http://parkourgenerations.com/class?classtype=youth). While they do have dedicated gyms most of the classes are still run outside, in keeping with the general philosophy of parkour. A lot of what is taught in these classes is not specific physical techniques but instead how to be aware of your own limits, how to push your limits safely and how to deal with fear. The effect on the confidence and maturity of the kids is incredible.
The general feeling of a lot of traceurs is that not only do padded floors and crash mats not keep you safe, but that training only in 'safe' environments makes you dangerously complacent. Soft landings disguise lots of dangerous habits and it only takes an awkward angle or a turned ankle to turn that into a broken bone. Anecdotally, my only parkour injury occurred in NYC where (thanks to the wonderfully friendly NY police) I spent a few months only training indoors in a padded gym.
Re: New Zealand school tossed its playground rules
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
The problem in the US isn't lawsuits, it's lack of decent health care. The lawsuits are a forseeable outcome of parents who could be financially devastated if their child has a bad injury.
Ok, what was different in the '80s?
I think the cost of medical care was probably cheaper, the liabilities less. I was a kid then so I don't actually know.
Re: New Zealand school tossed its playground rules
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ok, what was different in the '80s?
I think the cost of medical care was probably cheaper, the liabilities less. I was a kid then so I don't actually know.
Hmm... now I need a chart showing healthcare prices for the past 50 years as well as percentage of claims denied.
Re: New Zealand school tossed its playground rules
#35A great book on this topic is How to Live Dangerously by Warwick Cairns. He tells the story of a school in Norway that conducted a similar playground experiment. In that study, they had two playgrounds -- a "safe one" with rubberized mats and chaperones keeping a watchful eye and a "dangerous" one with tall structures, concrete, piles of wood, metal poles and no adult supervision at all. Within a couple days, several kids in the dangerous playground had broken limbs or had minor scrapes, but they continued the experiment. Within a couple weeks, the injuries had subsided and the kids in the dangerous playground were exhibiting all sorts of positive behavior. Compared to the "safe" playground, these children were happier, healthier, and more socially developed and getting along better with each other.
I did all sorts of crazy stuff growing up. I'm thankful I had parents who gave me a large radius to roam and didn't freak out (too much) when they had to drive me to the emergency room on occasion. The radius for which kids are allowed to play outside has been shrinking dramatically over the past few years. Humans are notoriously bad at risk assessment. We're more worried about child abductions than childhood obesity. Statistically speaking, only one of those is a real issue today.
Re: New Zealand school tossed its playground rules
#36The probability of one kid being killed or seriously injured in this one school in, say a year is nearly zero so it won't happen and everyone will think it's wonderful. But if all schools do it all the time, you'll start to see some fatalities and brain damages where rules would have prevented them and people will start saying "let's forbid high forts with concrete to fall on" etc.
Anecdotal story. As a kid playing in the street I ended up under a moving car. The only reason I'm alive is somebody alerted the driver in time. We don't notice rare accident deaths, but we do notice pervasive safety measures (don't play on the road even in a culdesac anyone?)
Re: New Zealand school tossed its playground rules
#37This reminds me of something related. I don't force my children to wear helmets when they ride their bikes. When we are out, people yell at me "Where's their helmet dad?". These are the same type of people who force the removal of swing sets at the parks in my area.
Re: New Zealand school tossed its playground rules
#38This is great and can/should be applied to other schools within New Zealand. Extreme restrictions do effect the kids and I believe that having the freedom to learn some valuable life lessons (while they are already absorbing so much) is a massive positive that outweighs the risk of injury.
My younger brother came home from primary school (elementary school) last year with a playground "Rule Sheet" -- You should have seen the response to ridiculous rules such as "Children can climb trees as long as they have one foot on the ground at all times." -- Even though the trees mentioned are less than 3-4 metres high.
It is a hard thing to manage just due to so many parents and their different styles of parenting but I do think a medium can be reached.
Re: New Zealand school tossed its playground rules
#39I give my son his freedom to play but I also make sure that he is away from serious injuries..
Re: New Zealand school tossed its playground rules
#40This reminds me of something related. I don't force my children to wear helmets when they ride their bikes. When we are out, people yell at me "Where's their helmet dad?". These are the same type of people who force the removal of swing sets at the parks in my area.
I would, because I've seen what happens when kids fall off their bikes and hit their heads on the pavement. :(