In contrast to the modern trend of helicopter parenting and safety-first playgrounds, one school in New Zealand has decided to completely do away with rules during recess playtime to great effect. They aren't alone in this reversal, some of which can be justified by a study showing that children who injured themselves by falling from heights grow up to be less fearful of heights than those who weren't hurt.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Sir Garlon on Friday June 13 2014, @10:24AM
You can address the severity of likely injury micro-managing the kids' behavior. For example, don't build the jungle gym high enough that a child will have a high probability of head or spinal injury if she falls. Cut down the trees inside the playground so the children can't climb 10 meters high and fall onto asphalt. Then you can create a playground where as long as the kids stay inside the fence, they're safe enough -- for an engineer's (or an actuary's) definition of safety.
[Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Sir Garlon on Friday June 13 2014, @11:42AM
Drat, I posted before coffee. First sentence should read, "You can address the severity of likely injury *without* micro-managing the kids' behavior."
[Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
(Score: 2) by Alfred on Friday June 13 2014, @01:18PM
Forget climbing, does this mean the kids can play tag?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 13 2014, @01:35PM
They can do anything they want. They can even do stuff where they hurt each other as long as all the kids involved are OK with getting hurt (i.e. no bullying, but tackle football is fine).