2024’s Best Cities for Children’s Playgrounds

What are three essential tips for parents and caregivers who are supervising kids at the playground?

Put away the cell phones.

Which part of the playground is most dangerous and why?

This takes actual data. Some organizations must be studying where the most injuries occur. I would think swings, but this is just a hypothesis.

What should parents do if an unsupervised kid is causing trouble at the playground?

Try to speak to the child kindly.

What are three ways playgrounds can be more inclusive of children with disabilities?

Have devices that can be done just with arms or just with legs.

How can local governments improve playground access and design for their communities?

Invest in Playful Learning Landscapes to make their playgrounds contain learning as well.

What is one cutting-edge innovation in playground design?

Once again, go to Playful Learning Landscapes.

Other links:

• Expert bio: https://www.cehd.udel.edu/faculty-bio/roberta-michnick-golinkoff
• Expert file: https://expertfile.com/experts/roberta.golinkoff

How can local governments improve playground access and design for their communities?

The Playful Learning Landscapes work in Santa Ana has involved a deep partnership with the city. Representatives from Parks and Recreation and Public Works have been involved in the project throughout offering key insights into making the projects successful.

Although this work was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation the City of Santa Ana agreed to own and maintain the installations. The goal is that these installations would serve as a proof of concept and the city would then be able to replicate them using their existing budgets. Indeed we are already seeing examples of this — the city has funded an abacus playful learning design for a bus stop, and several other designs for a new playground project.

Santa Ana is also part of a global network of playful learning cities convened by Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network to share lessons learned and build community around transforming our everyday spaces into hubs for playful learning.

What is one cutting-edge innovation in playground design?

I am part of an initiative called Playful Learning Landscapes where we design everyday spaces (e.g., parks, playgrounds, and bus stops) for play and learning opportunities. We design these spaces based on research from developmental and education sciences and in partnership with a local community organization — the Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative (SAELI) — so that they reflect their culture, values, and community.

For example, in Santa Ana California — a predominately Latino community — we designed a giant version of the popular game Loteria, a bingo-style game that many families in Santa Ana play. Within the game, we embedded math and science learning activities merging physical activity, joyful cultural games, and early STEM learning.

What are three essential tips for parents and caregivers who are supervising kids at the playground?

1. As an early childhood educator, and mother of three, my best advice for parents taking their children to the playground is to come prepared. Both children and grownups should dress for the weather.

If it’s cold outside, make sure you dress your child in layers and bring gloves to ensure your playtime isn’t cut short. During the warmer months, don’t forget the sunscreen and water bottles. Other supplies like bandaids, snacks, and a blanket to sit on can also come in handy.

2. Another tip is to find out what the bathroom situation is and plan accordingly. Many playgrounds are connected to elementary schools which means if nature calls, you are out of luck!

While some playgrounds do have bathrooms, it’s always a good idea for everyone to use the bathroom before leaving the house. And remember to bring extra diapers and baby wipes for children who are not potty-trained.

3. One final tip is to supervise your kids, but let them play! There is a growing recognition of the importance of risky play in child development. Playgrounds provide children with countless opportunities for gross motor development. They are also a place to foster important skills like risk analysis, self-confidence, resiliency, and flexible thinking.

Rather than telling your child “You can’t climb on that,” stand by and ask questions like “What’s your plan?” Try narrating their moves and offering suggestions to help them feel confident and supported. Stay close enough to soften a potential fall, but resist the urge to step in and help them physically unless they ask for it explicitly. Instead, offer reassurance and encouragement: “I’m here if you need me, but you are strong and brave. You’ve got this!”

Which part of the playground is most dangerous and why?

While playgrounds are designed with safety in mind, accidents do happen.

The majority of injuries that occur on playgrounds result from falls, be it from swings, slides, rock walls, monkey bars, or the structure itself. Playground surfacing is designed to absorb the shock from a fall, but injuries such as broken bones can still occur.

• Before arriving at the playground, you and your child can discuss the importance of using playground equipment safely.
• Make sure that your child is playing on equipment made specifically for their age and body size.
• Avoid playgrounds with asphalt or concrete flooring as these do not provide cushion or protection against falls.
• While it might seem like a no-brainer, sneakers are the safest type of footwear for the playground as they provide support and traction, protect against infections, and won’t slip off while your child is playing.

What should parents do if an unsupervised kid is causing trouble at the playground?

How to handle the issue of an unsupervised child causing trouble on the playground depends on many factors, ranging from the age of the child to the comfort level of the parent.

Your first step might be to move a little closer to see if the situation is helped by the presence of an adult.

If that strategy doesn’t work, your safest bet is to redirect your child to another area of the playground.

If you are comfortable talking to children in an age-appropriate manner, you might try gently reminding the individual in question of the playground rules, but it is not your responsibility to discipline someone else’s child.

My advice would be to only intervene if the child is posing a serious safety risk to others on the playground.

What are three ways playgrounds can be more inclusive of children with disabilities?

Playgrounds should be a place where everyone feels welcome. Inclusive playgrounds meet the needs of all users, including individuals with physical and/or cognitive challenges. There are many ways that playgrounds can be more inclusive of children with disabilities.

1. Adding sensory elements such as music panels, roller slides, and wheelchair-accessible spinners ensure that all children are getting the sensory input that is so beneficial to their development.

2. Another way to make playgrounds more inclusive is to incorporate equipment designed to help children with disabilities play alongside their typically developing peers. Adaptive equipment such as swings, ramps, and wheelchair-accessible slides allow children with a wide range of abilities to play and thrive.

3. Additionally, while playgrounds are a great place for kids to be loud and active, individuals with sensory issues can become overstimulated and dysregulated. Providing quiet spaces for children to calm their bodies and minds can help ensure everyone feels safe on the playground.

How can local governments improve playground access and design for their communities?

Research has shown that parks and playgrounds can provide enormous health benefits to communities, strengthen social ties, and improve environmental outcomes. Unfortunately, issues like lack of funding, housing barriers, zoning restrictions, and lack of access to public transportation often exclude people of color and lower-income families from utilizing high-quality playgrounds and green spaces.

Local governments can improve playground access and design by first conducting extensive community outreach to better understand the needs of the community and how residents will use the space. In-person or virtual public meetings are a simple way to connect with community members and gather this vital information.

In terms of securing funding, state and federal infrastructure grants are one way to receive funding to improve public spaces like playgrounds to make them safer and more accessible.

What is one cutting-edge innovation in playground design?

One cutting-edge innovation that has seen a rise in popularity throughout the past few years is the use of sustainable materials and eco-friendly practices to construct modern playgrounds.

Traditional playgrounds often use materials like plastic, which are harmful to the environment and have a limited lifespan. Sustainable playgrounds prioritize the use of materials like steel, recycled plastics, and reclaimed wood which reduce environmental impact while being safe and durable.