I remember when I first felt as being in a playground during physical activity. I was riding my bike through beautiful country roads in southwestern Pennsylvania. I was by myself and had just finished a climb. It was a beautiful summer day. The grass and the trees were vivid green and the sky was totally blue. There were no cars, neither dogs around to scare me. I was having a good time.
I had recently discovered road cycling and quickly felt in love with it. In the beginning, I would only venture into the country roads with a group. But, thanks to other experienced (and patient) cyclists, I gradually developed the skills, knowledge, courage, and confidence to hit the country roads by myself. I am not a fast rider and have little confidence riding downhill. But, I enjoy riding faster on rolling hills. Risking greater speeds while still being in control of my body and the bike is fun. Not knowing what's next and picking up speed on the (not so steep) downhills gives me a thrill. And, generating momentum by switching the right gear when going uphill makes me feel accomplished.
Back to that summer day, I was doing just that: I had let the bike go for a moment on a downhill and felt the wind blowing in my face. I lifted my eyes and looked around to enjoy the scenery. I felt part of it. Everything was in synchrony: my body, the bike, and nature. I remember feeling joy mixed with a thrill, empowerment mixed with happiness, and confidence mixed with pleasure. It was exhilarating and I could not help but say, “Wow, what a playground!”
Playgrounds offer this mix between conquering and rejoicing. They generate a sense of competence and pleasure. Enjoyment is contingent upon some measure of risk. Risk results in either success or a learning opportunity. Playgrounds are attractive and ignite the desire to play, to risk, to be there.
This is what I see when I imagine kids in a playground: They are trying to accomplish something and smile as they succeed. They laugh while playing and repeat movements for the sake of it. They stay at the moment while interacting with the environment (natural, built, and social). They try new movements and show their friends and family what they can do. They get sweaty and tired. They explore the environment and socialize with others. Sometimes, they do their own thing and are cool about it.
I chose to use the term finding playgrounds to guide my work as a physical educator and scholar. Finding playgrounds is about empowering young people to value physical activity. It means providing young people with opportunities to identify the spaces in which they feel confident and happy about moving their bodies. Finding playgrounds is about respecting and nurturing each young person’s relationship with movement. That is, guiding young people in the process of valuing physical activity as a key component of their lives and well-being. Finding playgrounds is also about equity and justice because every young person should have opportunities to develop meaningful and lasting relationships with movement and their bodies.
I had recently discovered road cycling and quickly felt in love with it. In the beginning, I would only venture into the country roads with a group. But, thanks to other experienced (and patient) cyclists, I gradually developed the skills, knowledge, courage, and confidence to hit the country roads by myself. I am not a fast rider and have little confidence riding downhill. But, I enjoy riding faster on rolling hills. Risking greater speeds while still being in control of my body and the bike is fun. Not knowing what's next and picking up speed on the (not so steep) downhills gives me a thrill. And, generating momentum by switching the right gear when going uphill makes me feel accomplished.
Back to that summer day, I was doing just that: I had let the bike go for a moment on a downhill and felt the wind blowing in my face. I lifted my eyes and looked around to enjoy the scenery. I felt part of it. Everything was in synchrony: my body, the bike, and nature. I remember feeling joy mixed with a thrill, empowerment mixed with happiness, and confidence mixed with pleasure. It was exhilarating and I could not help but say, “Wow, what a playground!”
Playgrounds offer this mix between conquering and rejoicing. They generate a sense of competence and pleasure. Enjoyment is contingent upon some measure of risk. Risk results in either success or a learning opportunity. Playgrounds are attractive and ignite the desire to play, to risk, to be there.
This is what I see when I imagine kids in a playground: They are trying to accomplish something and smile as they succeed. They laugh while playing and repeat movements for the sake of it. They stay at the moment while interacting with the environment (natural, built, and social). They try new movements and show their friends and family what they can do. They get sweaty and tired. They explore the environment and socialize with others. Sometimes, they do their own thing and are cool about it.
I chose to use the term finding playgrounds to guide my work as a physical educator and scholar. Finding playgrounds is about empowering young people to value physical activity. It means providing young people with opportunities to identify the spaces in which they feel confident and happy about moving their bodies. Finding playgrounds is about respecting and nurturing each young person’s relationship with movement. That is, guiding young people in the process of valuing physical activity as a key component of their lives and well-being. Finding playgrounds is also about equity and justice because every young person should have opportunities to develop meaningful and lasting relationships with movement and their bodies.
