Following on from my previous post about the Tinkering School and how creating meaningful experiences for children allows better learning, is this article about the Kolle 37 playpark in Berlin, Germany.

Here at the playground the children have the opportunity to build their own huts, make fire, work in the garden, watch and work with animals or just play. There are different projects in which the children can develop their creativity. They also learn about the work with different materials and tools, for this purpose the playground provides a pottery, a workshop for wood and felt, a smith and a rehearsal room to play music.

The tower in the picture above (and about 10 others) was built solely by children aged from six through to sixteen!

Parents technically aren’t allowed in the building area and the staff only checks in on the kids intermittently. So how is it so safe? Well, there are numerous studies that point to the tendency for children to adjust their actions given the relative danger of a situation. If the perceived risk is high, children will naturally be more careful or wary of their actions and movements.

The rationale for this type of free play is documented here, here and here (thanks again to the Public Workshop article).

This amazing approach to play brings into stark contrast a letter written to our local paper this week, complaining about the recent extension to the children’s play park on the beach:

From around 6pm each day, groups of youths aged between 16 and 20 muck about, deliberately attempting to break the equipment. This is the sole object of their play…
In London, where such items of play equipment have been installed, proper management of the site, with high fences, a man patrolling, careful division of age groups, etc., ensures no one is hurt or intimidated or vandalises the equipment.

This kind of attitude really frustrates me. We use that park regularly, and while there are a number of teens there in the evenings, they’re generally pretty respectful. But then, there’s no other play provision for them nearby so I’m not surprised they want to go on the zip wire.

I would love to see more spaces like Kolle 37 developed here in the UK. The only similar idea I know of is Somerford Grove adventure Playground, Haringley, London, which was featured in Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire in 2009. Let me know if you’re aware of any more.

What is your experience of play areas for children? Do they learn more through higher risk experiences? Leave me a comment below!