Can A Playground Be Too Safe Analysis

1016 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Impact of sports on children

Vincent Van Gogh stated, "As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed." Indeed, we often find ourselves in hard circumstances, where our strength can be challenged and tested its limits on an array of unusual activities. After accomplishing all given difficulties, we would get new thrills like being the winner, overcoming fears of height, conquering the opponents, or just winning in new tough games. Children also need this thing to grow physical as well as mental health. Therefore, John Tierney wrote the article “Can a Playground Be Too Safe?” which was published on New York Times on July 18, 2011 to show a common issue in our society. The author wondered …show more content…

Indeed, the safety of children is the main purpose of this article, so he provided us with a series of studies to confirm his argument. For example, some psychologists have shown the pattern: A child who’s hurt in a fall before the age of 9 is less likely as a teenager to have a fear of heights. They believe that if the children are allowed to go outside their safety zone, they will learn how to accept obstacles as well as hard situations. They will be stronger and more willing to confront new challenges as time goes by. Moreover, Dr. Ball said. “If children and parents believe they are in an environment which is safer than it actually is, they will take more risks." And a real example, Nayelis Serrano, a 10-year-old from the South Bronx, she used to play jungle gyms. Her experience about that game is so wonderful. She was scared it at first, but she kept continuing to the top of bar, and she won. She said. “I’d like to see it in our playground. Why not? It’s kind of dangerous, I know, but if you just think about danger you’re never going to get ahead in life.”
In conclusion, the author has given a common issue in our society, which is safety for children. Although the debate tends to replace all traditional equipment on children's playgrounds, it still causes us to think more about how to develop children in the perfect way. Do we need to keep children too safe? And this point is the success of the writer because his article is viable and very comprehensive to the intended audience, providing balance as well. By expressing the opposing ideas of two sides in the argument, the readers actually have the chance to give their own

Show More
Related

  • Analysis: Can A Playground Be Too Safe

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    People who say “Rockwell’s playground is still an adventure playground—a construction site with all the splintery edges sanded down. It’s what an adventure playground looks like in a risk-averse culture. And it promotes the kind of play we think children should be doing now: not with just their bodies, but with their minds. The Imagination Playground is a much more cognitive vision of the playground. No one would confuse it with a jungle gym.” (Day 2) This shows that children to Mr.Day should be using their heads more and playgrounds should be safer, but Commissioner of parks in New York Henry Stern has a different idea. He says “His philosophy seemed reactionary at the time, but today it’s shared by some researchers who question the value of safety-first playgrounds. Even if children do suffer fewer physical injuries — and the evidence for that is debatable — the critics say that these playgrounds may stunt emotional development, leaving children with anxieties and fears that are ultimately worse than a broken bone.” (Tierney 1) Showing that kids should be doing physical activities at parks and using their imagination somewhere else. Not only-but also David Ball says “There is no clear evidence that playground safety measures have lowered the average risk on playgrounds,” said David Ball, a professor of risk management at Middlesex University in London. He noted that the risk of some injuries, like long

    Read More

  • Summary Of Van Der Heiden's Essay 'Looking Both Ways'

    369 Words  | 1 Pages

    In a playground sits a teenager on the swing, she bask in the bliss, as she swings care-freely, without minding any injuries she might suffer as a result of not being cautious of falling off. In other, to avoid accidents, different precautions are required and should be observed. Like for example, when crossing the road, teenagers and kids should observe road safety signs, use safety equipment when necessary and obey traffic rules for crossing the road. Furthermore, there

    Read More

  • Stuff

    988 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...The society in Brave New World learned that, if they do something that they enjoy, and then they will want to do it more often. For example, the game Bumble-Puppy, described in the quote, teaches them children self-awareness. They do not know when or if the ball is going to come to them. They have to be ready. This readiness helps them in their jobs and daily lives.

    Read More

  • Discussion about the Document of National Quality Standard

    1878 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ginsburg, K. R. (2006). "The Species of the World. " The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent–Child Bonds. USA: American Academy of Pediatrics.

    Read More

  • Ineffective Argument in Jessica Statsky's Essay, Children need to Play, Not Compete

    952 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the assumptions Statsky makes is that, “One readily understandable danger of overly competitive sports is that they entice children into physical actions that are bad for growing bodies” (627). This statement rests on the assumption that children would not perform any “physical actions that are bad for growing bodies” (Statsky 627) without organized competitive sports. This is simply untrue. Children jump from swings, climb trees, skateboard, “pop wheelies” and otherwise put themselves in physical peril with alarming regularity. Children’s free and unorganized play often results in broken bones and stitches, even for the most timid children.

    Read More

  • Don Aucoin And Bubble-Wrapping Our Children The Perils Of Ineffective Parenting Case Study

    717 Words  | 2 Pages

    Moreover, I think taking risks in the lives has a lot of benefits for development or education. We need to give responsibility to our child because they are taking risk and assuming responsibility which often goes hand in hand for example “giving a child her first pocket knife at, say age 9 not only gives her the advantage of experiencing a little risk play with a sharp object. It signals that she’s responsible for keeping herself and others safer”. Michael Ungal 28.

    Read More

  • Learning Responsibility On City Sidewalks, By Jane Jacobs

    663 Words  | 2 Pages

    Like the author, I do not think the government should be held responsible for the creation of playgrounds because playgrounds do not force children to challenge themselves mentally

    Read More

  • Gopnik The Value Of Play Analysis

    892 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gopink displayed that the most effective way to foster and learn about the physical world is by playing with everyday objects. For instance, the old standbys, cardboard, sand, and mixing bowls. Whereas, dolls costumes, and toy dishes reinforce their pretend play and makes them learn about social world. According to Gopnik, the most important thing is when children were surrounded by relatives and genuine teachers who pay attention to children’s interest and help them to play. He revealed that outdoor play should not be neglected. It is not a place to practice physical exercise. He added “children need opportunities to explore places to investigate, stairs to climb and trees to hide behind,” I learned that children have constant desire to discover and explore new things that existed in nature. I learned through Gopnik’s final message for preschool teachers and as he stated “Preschool from evolutionary point of view, re extended period of immaturity in the human life span.” However, children’s exploration and play broadens their awareness and turns them into adults who are flexible and sophisticated thinkers from Gopnik’s point of

    Read More

  • An Essay On The Importance Of Play On Child Learning

    841 Words  | 2 Pages

    Like the latter, an essay by Gray, P. (2016) also showed researches on play deficit. He found out that most professionals who succeeded and happy are those who were not deprived in playing. He then concluded that, play deprivation is not good for children and other things. It promotes anxiety, depression, narcissism, loss of creativity and

    Read More

  • Mattel and Toy Safety

    1305 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... in the toy industry is to make toy safety the number one priority and to fulfill the customers’ needs.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Risky Play

    1005 Words  | 3 Pages

    In modern Western countries, adults take the responsibility of managing children’ behaviours, activities and the environment as protecting children from significant injuries. Also, parents are likely to pay more attention to protect their children from external injuries such as traffic accidents, stranger’s dangerous, personal accidents and other factors (Wyver et al., 2010, p.264). Under these kinds of protections, children lose many opportunities for free play and lead to the increase of childhood obesity as well as inactivity health issues (Wyver et al., 2010, p. 263). Beside the protection from parents, the features in the childhood environment are less risky for children to play with. For example, some Western countries such as the United Kingdom uses the rubber playground to reduce the rates of children injuries (Wyver et al., 2010, p. 265). The surplus safety from both parents and environment minimises children’s chances and experiences of encountering risks. In some way, the surplus safety infringes children’s right of play and silences their voices on their lives. Wyver et al. (2010, p. 263) argue that the surplus safety is negative to children from both legitimate anger and child development anger. Surplus safety may not substantially build the child-friendly

    Read More

  • Play And Child Development Essay

    2561 Words  | 6 Pages

    Play supports children’s physical development as when they are playing they are being active and exercising their body. It is important that children develop strength and stamina from a young age and through

    Read More

  • The Theories and Research Behind Creative Curriculum

    2531 Words  | 6 Pages

    It is my strong belief that each child is entitled to a safe, secure, stimulating and caring learning environment. I always believed that each child is a unique individual with much curiosity and many academic, social and emotional needs. Children need our support in order to mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. As a teacher, one should aim to help students in fulfilling their dreams to become successful and educated individuals. We must provide them with a safe learning environment for their learning to succeed.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Rollershoes

    447 Words  | 1 Pages

    Nowadays, the number of people who play the rollershoes are increasingly increased, whatever in communities, streets or campus, the rollershoes are everywhere to be seen. Much ink has been spilled about the merits and demerits of playing rollershoes, however, due to the escalating trend of accidents. Quite a few people advocate children should be banned to wear rollershoes,a serious threat. Nevertheless, some people standing in the different ground proclaim that such recreation tool just innocent toy and it will not cause vicious society effect.

    Read More

  • Play Importance Of Play

    1154 Words  | 3 Pages

    Holistic development of young children is the key determination and through play they are able to survive and become physically healthy, able to learn, and emotionally secure and into where they progress into responsible and productive adults with positive reinforcements in the future. When there are societal issues that are barriers such as “technology, childhood obesity, culture, etc.” (Gaston, A, Module 1, Unit 1, 2016), children are then unable to revel in freedom of movement in where play is adventurous and brings out positive behavior. “Play supports the holistic development through the development of intellectual, emotions, socially, physical, creative and spiritual” (Gaston, A, Module 1, Unit 2, 2016), signifying that holistic development is an important factor to be aware of as the child grows. An example would be when in Workshop 1 of Social and Cognitive Styles of Play, we had to play in the given activity for the time being and observe our members and distinguish what kind of cognitive play it was. And one of the assigned question to

    Read More

More about Can A Playground Be Too Safe Analysis

Open Document