Our kids love our playset right now, as all the research and development for its particular design and function is for ages 3 to 10 years. We had friends over for a Memorial Day barbecue yesterday, and our friends brought their children. With the exception of Daniel (6 months), all the kids that were over were in the optimal age range for enjoyment of our swingset/slide playset, although at 8-almost 9-years, the entertainment factor is pushing it for Kira. In fact, at 18 months (and not officially in the bracket) Liam was arguably having the most fun of all! Dash just marched around and claimed ownership of everything ("mine swing!"), kind of spoiling his own enjoyment, but that's part of being two years old, right? Lila figured out how to flip around on the trapeeze, which Rosie has been happy to just dangle from; kudos, you coordinated little flower!
So, what is there when your 8 to 12 year-old is bored with your playset that was designed to keep a 4 year-old entertained? Some architects and conceptual artists envision "new spaces to stimulate the imagination (and the metabolism) by encouraging exploration and free play."
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/29/opinion/29arieff.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
The writer mentions that she has asked other designers for input. I'll keep my eyes peeled.
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I am COMPLETELY down with the 5-story sliding tube! Fill those slides up with barbecue sauce and you've sealed the deal.
ReplyDeleteThe primary problem with developing tween-friendly playgrounds is that tweens are at that precious stage when they're not happy unless they're trying to kill themselves. However, so long as you limit the impalement/dismemberment factor, I have no problem with this.