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A playground is an area designed for Child ren to play freely.
Modern playground often have recreational equipment such as the See-saw , Merry-go-round , Swingset , slide, Climber , Walking Bridge , Jungle Gym , Chin-up Bar s, Sandbox , Parallel Bars , Overhead Ladder , Trapeze and Trapeze Rings , Playhouse s, and Maze , many of which help children develop physical coordination, strength, and flexibility, as well as providing Recreation and Enjoyment . Common in modern playgrounds are " Play Structures " that link many different pieces of equipment.

Playgrounds often also have facilities for playing informal games of adult Sport s, such as a Baseball diamond, a Skating rink, a Basketball court, or a Tetherball .


PLAYGROUND METAPHOR

"Playground" is also an informal term to describe an area designed for any particular group of people, for example: "the resort spa has become a playground for millionaires".

"Playground" can also simply be the title of a summer program. In many cities, the playgrounds have been turned into free Daycare services that merely use the playground as a meeting place for the "playground program" to begin. From there, the childcare providers take their children to additional fun places as field trips, such as to a Swimming Pool , a Miniature Golf course, or a Laser Tag adventure.


ABOUT PLAYGROUNDS

Professionals recognize that the social skills that children develop on the playground become lifelong skill sets that are carried forward into their adulthood. Independent research concludes that playgrounds are among the most important environments for children outside the home. Most forms of play are essential for healthy development, but free, spontaneous play—the kind that occurs on playgrounds—is the most beneficial type of play.

Children have devised many Playground Game s and pastimes. But because playgrounds are usually subject to adult supervision and oversight, young children's Street Culture often struggles to fully thrive there. Research by Robin Moore (''Childhood's Domain: Play and Place'', 1986) has clearly shown that playgrounds need to be balanced with marginal areas that (to adults) appear to be derelict or wasteground, which young children can claim for themselves, ideally a wood or field.

Playgrounds can be
  • Public, free of charge

  • A business with an entrance fee

  • Connected to a business, for customers only, e.g., at McDonald's and IKEA .

  • Elaborate indoor mazes, like those at the (now defunct) Discovery Zone and Chuck E. Cheese's