ABSTRACT
The cultivation of flowers and trees is the cultivation of the good, the beautiful, and the ennobling in man.
(J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day)
We often use the term “playgrounds” when we talk about outdoor areas designed specifically for young children. Unfortunately, many such playspaces fail to foster creative play and are often devoid of “ground” (i.e. soil), as well – thus, making the term “playgrounds” an inaccurate description of what’s offered. Traditionally, playgrounds feature “equipment” – swings, slides, and climbing structures. The surface of many playgrounds consists of asphalt. Such playspaces fall miserably short in addressing the holistic needs of children. Children need more than equipment; they need opportunities to explore, experiment, manipulate, create, and learn about the natural world. Children also need environments that tell them that they are competent and respected. They need playspaces that put them in touch with beauty, arouse their curiosity, and excite their imaginations. There’s a reason why children prefer to “play under the bushes” (Wilson 2004) rather than use traditional playground equipment. This reason has a lot to do with children’s need to make a playspace their own. Playground equipment is usually cemented or bolted in one place and cannot be rearranged by children. Another disadvantage of playground equipment is its lack of transferability – it’s designed to be used in a prescribed way instead of offering options for how to use it.
