Changes

====Early History====In 1837, the concept of kindergarten, with the term coined in 1840, was developed by the early child psychologist Friedrich Fröbel. He realized that children at early ages needed to combine play with learning and that learning was, in fact, intertwined with play for young children. As Friedrich Fröbel developed an early kindergarten in Bad Blankenburg, in modern Germany, he realized the school also needed a play space to encourage his learning-play concept. The first playground was created within the the area of the first kindergarten. The first playgrounds encouraged dancing and activities that were measured for their educational effect. Sadly, kindergartens were banned by the Prussian government that came to power in 1851, suppressing the idea and spread of playgrounds in Germany for decades. In the 1880s, playgrounds did appear again in Germany, which were then called sand gardens.<ref>For more on how the concept of playgrounds firs evolved, see: Frost, Joe L. 2010. <i>A History of Children’s Play and Play Environments: Toward a Contemporary Child-Saving Movement</i>. New York: Routledge. </ref>

In 1859, in Manchester, EnglandSadly, kindergartens were banned by the Victorian population Prussian government that came to power in the city realized the difficulties they had with children running on the street and the dangers that could cause for accidents. Industrialization had made cities crowded, noisy1851, and polluted. The city decided that year to build suppressing the first purpose-built playground that was not attached to any school. The idea was to keep children busy and give them some space away from the crowded urban areas. Nevertheless, many people did not see the purpose spread of playgrounds, as streets were often not that busy in many other areas and there were spaces Germany for children to play in neighbourhoodsdecades. In 1886, Boston created arguably the first playground in the United States and others followed as far as California. However1880s, the idea playgrounds did not prove popular among many residents appear again in the United States and many saw funds for public playgrounds as a waste. Things only began to change more substantially as the automobile began to be introduced. In 1901, one of the first reports to publish accidental deaths caused on streets was published. The number of children killed astonished people and soon created a movement to create play areas designated for children. AdditionallyGermany, educational theories in the United States which were beginning to see the relevance of Fröbel's ideas on the importance of play and education. These two effects combined to create a playground movement within the United States in the first decade of the 1900s, culminating with the founding of the Playground Association of America in 1906 (Figure 1)then called sand gardens.<ref>For more on how the concept of playgrounds spread in the United Statesfirs evolved, see: DoellFrost, Charles Edward, Fitzgerald, Gerald BJoe L., Bank, Theodore P2010. <i>A Brief History of Parks Children’s Play and Recreation in the United StatesPlay Environments: Toward a Contemporary Child-Saving Movement</i>. Literary Licensing, LLCNew York: Routledge. </ref>

[[File:Fd9f8b14af0c798aa5a1772e30776b3dIn 1859, in Manchester, England, the Victorian population in the city realized the difficulties they had with children running on the street and the dangers that could cause for accidents. Industrialization had made cities crowded, noisy, and polluted. The city decided that year to build the first purpose-built playground that was not attached to any school.jpg|thumb|Figure 1The idea was to keep children busy and give them some space away from the crowded urban areas. Early Nevertheless, many people did not see the purpose of playgrounds , as streets were often fairly formal, with not that busy in many other areas and there were spaces for children trained to play in neighbourhoods. In 1886, Boston created arguably the first playground in the United States and learnothers followed as far as California.]]

==Spread However, the idea did not prove popular among many residents in the United States and many saw funds for public playgrounds as a waste. Things only began to change more substantially as the automobile began to be introduced. In 1901, one of Playgrounds==the first reports to publish accidental deaths caused on streets was published. The number of children killed astonished people and soon created a movement to create play areas designated for children. Additionally, educational theories in the United States were beginning to see the relevance of Fröbel's ideas on the importance of play and education. These two effects combined to create a playground movement within the United States in the first decade of the 1900s, culminating with the founding of the Playground Association of America in 1906 (Figure 1).<ref>For more on how playgrounds spread in the United States, see: Doell, Charles Edward, Fitzgerald, Gerald B., Bank, Theodore P. <i>A Brief History of Parks and Recreation in the United States</i>. Literary Licensing, LLC. </ref>

====Spread of Playgrounds====[[File:1942-central-park.jpg|thumb|Figure 2. Over time, playgrounds became less formal and more focused on only play.]]With the establishment of Playground Association of America, playgrounds spread throughout the United States soon after. However, playgrounds were still very much seen as educational areas as well as for play. Playgrounds tended to be much more formal and required trained supervisors to watch and train children on lessons and activities. Playgrounds were also often dangerous, which included acrobatic equipment and climbing devices that led to injuries. Also, early playgrounds had a somewhat different layout than modern playgrounds. There were separate play sections for different activities; areas were also created for athletic play, including fields for boys and girls.  Many playgrounds had shelters and toilet or even bathing facilities. Playgrounds were also integrated as part of urban gardens and parks, with garden plots, shaded areas, and swimming pools all part of formal playgrounds. Playgrounds were almost always supervised and children could not simply go to the playground without prior permission from supervisors of these playgrounds. Playground time was often a scheduled activity that formed part of the wider education of children.<ref>For more on the design of early playgrounds, see: Brett, Arlene, Robin C. Moore, and Eugene F. Provenzo. 1993. <i>The Complete Playground Book</i>. 1st ed. Syracuse, N.Y: Syracuse University Press.</ref>  Change to playgrounds though began to appear by the next decades in the 1910s-1920s, as manufacturers realized that playgrounds provided financial opportunities for them. They began to create new forms of entertainment for children, with ladders, chains, and new types climbing areas created, although playgrounds were still relatively dangerous by modern standards, with injuries common. The 1910s-1920s was considered an experimental time for playgrounds, as manufacturers began to develop different forms of equipment for play and activities. In 1922, the first playground slide may have been installed, with Wicksteed Park in Kettering, England installing the slide. Swings appeared more regularly, although the swing existed as a leisure device since antiquity. Slides had been around since the turn of the century, but they were mostly installed in amusement parks such as Coney Island. After the 1920s, the 1930s-1940s saw little development or even expansion of playgrounds, as the Depression and World War II slowed their construction.  In the late 1940s-1950s, landscape playgrounds became a new novelty. At this point, the formality of playgrounds began to wane and people began to see playgrounds as places mostly for children entertainment or places to burn off children energy became a more accepted concept. Already the formality of playgrounds began to wane by the 1910s-1920s, when new equipment was introduced, but this now accelerated (Figure 2).<ref>For more on changing concepts and looks to playgrounds in the 20th century, see: Kozlovsky, Roy. 2013. <i>The Architectures of Childhood: Children, Modern Architecture and Reconstruction in Postwar England. Ashgate Studies in Architecture</i>. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Company.</ref>

Change to ====Modern Developments====As more playgrounds though began to appear by the next decades spread in the 1910s1950s-1920s1960s, as manufacturers realized that playgrounds provided financial opportunities for them. They began to create new forms of entertainment for children, with ladders, chains, and new types climbing areas created, although playgrounds were still relatively dangerous by modern standards, with injuries common. The 1910s-1920s was considered safety became an experimental time for playgroundsissue once again, particularly as manufacturers injuries were high and now parents began to develop different forms of equipment see manufacturers and park administrators as reponsibile for play and activitiesinjuries incurred. In 1922This time, the first playground slide may have been installedmaterial used, with Wicksteed Park in Ketteringmostly metal (steel), England installing the slide. Swings appeared more regularly, although the swing existed as became a leisure device since antiquityconcern. Slides Manufacturers of metals had been around since seen playgrounds as an opportunity for business, but the turn of the centurymaterial, if not treated properly, could harm children, but they were mostly installed in amusement parks such as Coney Island. After the 1920s, the 1930s-1940s saw little development with sharp edges on slides or even expansion of rust developing. Even as new novelty playgroundscontinued to be developed, such as the Depression imagination playgrounds that had rocket ships and World War II slowed their construction. In the late 1940sother make-1950s, landscape playgrounds became a new novelty. At this pointbelieve ideas incorporated, the formality of playgrounds parents began to wane and people began to see playgrounds as places mostly clamour for children entertainment or places to burn off children energy became a more accepted conceptchange. Already the formality of playgrounds Playground equipment soon began to wane by the 1910s-1920s, when new equipment was introduced, but this now accelerated (Figure 2).<ref>For become more on changing concepts and looks to playgrounds rounded in the 20th centuryshape, see: Kozlovsky, Roy. 2013. <i>The Architectures of Childhood: Children, Modern Architecture and Reconstruction particularly in Postwar England. Ashgate Studies in Architecture</i>. Burlingtonedges, VT: Ashgate Publishing Companyto avoid bad cuts.</ref>

[[File:1942-central-parkAdditionally, manufacturers began to experiment and use harder plastics for slides and other equipment such as the monkey bars and slides.jpg|thumb|Figure 2. Over timeEquipment also became more standardized as more parks were created with play areas for children, playgrounds became less formal dropping prices and enabling the spread of different equipment.<ref>For more focused on only playhow safety became an increasing issue for playgrounds, see: Biondo, Brenda. 2014. <i>Once upon a Playground: A Celebration of Classic American Playgrounds, 1920-1975</i>. Lebanon, NH: ForeEdge, an imprint of University Press of New England, pg.]]ix.</ref>

==Modern Developments==As more playgrounds spread in Since the 1950s-1960s1980s, children safety became an issue once again, particularly additions such as injuries were high and now parents began to see manufacturers and park administrators as reponsibile for injuries incurred. This timenew surfaces have become popular, the material usedranging from wood chips, mostly metal (steel), became a concernto reused rubber from old tyres. Manufacturers of metals had seen Imaginative playgrounds as an opportunity for business, but the material, if not treated properly, could harm childrenhave become even more popular since then, including themes such as with sharp edges on slides or even rust developing. Even as new novelty playgrounds continued to be developedjungles, fortresses, such as imagination playgrounds that had rocket and pirate ships and other make-believe ideas incorporated, parents began to clamour for change. Playground equipment soon began to become more rounded in shapePlaygrounds, particularly in edgesinterestingly, to avoid bad cuts. Additionally, manufacturers once again began to experiment and use harder plastics for slides and other equipment such be seen as part of childhood education, although less formally than it was seen in the monkey bars 19th and slidesearly 20th centuries. Equipment also became more standardized Mazes and puzzles as part of play were introduced more parks were created with play areas for regularly to get children, dropping prices and enabling the spread of different equipmentto be physically involved while also using their minds in activities.<ref>For more on how safety became an increasing issue for playgroundsToday, see: Biondoin combating childhood obesity, Brenda. 2014. <i>Once upon a Playground: A Celebration of Classic American Playgrounds, 1920-1975</i>. Lebanon, NH: ForeEdge, an imprint of University Press of New England, pg. ixplaygrounds are seen as essential elements to also get children away for activities that are only indoor.</ref>

Since the 1980s, additions such as new surfaces have become popular, ranging from wood chips, to reused rubber from old tyres. Imaginative playgrounds have become even more popular since then, including themes such as jungles, fortresses, and pirate ships. Playgrounds, interestingly, once again began to be seen as part of childhood education, although less formally than it was seen in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Mazes and puzzles as part of play were introduced more regularly to get children to be physically involved while also using their minds in activities. Today, in combating childhood obesity, playgrounds are seen as essential elements to also get children away for activities that are only indoor. Since the 2000s, there has been a resurgence in communities raising funds to build more playgrounds, particularly in more urban areas. Inner city areas, with limited green space, have also developed more space for playgrounds as a way to not only fight off obesity but also keep children active and busy so they do not get involved in harmful activities. Indoor playgrounds became a novelty during the post-World War II safety drive. They have since increased not only because they are seen as safer in some urban areas but also they provide the benefit of all-year round play for children.<ref>For more on recent developments in playgrounds, see: Solomon, Susan G. 2005. <i>American Playgrounds: Revitalizing Community Space</i>. Hanover [N.H.]: University Press of New England.</ref>

====Summary====

{{MediaWiki:AmNative}}====References====<references/>[[Category:Wikis]][[Category:United States History]] [[Category:19th Century History]] [[Category:20th Century History]]