What do you think of junk playgrounds?

[Smartiewithoutacause]

Would you take your kids to play in a 'junk' playground filled with used pallets, old tires, ladders, broken bicycles, rope, pieces of wood, hammers and nails? Like the Land in north Wales or the Yard in New York.

Or would you be worried about the health and safety aspects of it? Do you think your children would get more enjoyment from a normal playground with swings and slides?

Looks cool. Nurseries already do a lot of that, Pallets, tyres, wood, etc but not the sharper stuff. Childcare is more and more about teaching the child to manage risk rather than making everything risk free.

Would totally do it. I used to keep junk in my garden and the kids loved playing with it and building things!

Love it. I would not like the hammer and nails unless it was a forest school outdoor learning space with supervision.

Thank you ! I was beginning to think I wouldn't get any responses and it's something I'm really interested in at the moment.

I read lots about loose parts play, it's a great idea- I wish more places did it

There's a local group round here who have suggested doing something like this, which has intrigued me. I'm also thinking of doing something similar (on a smaller scale of course!) in our back garden for our DC - trying to convince DH that it won't make the place look like an eyesore!

But I'm wondering if kids actually enjoy it or if it's the latest trend.

DS's school has a "scrap store". A huge lockup in the playground full of old things to use for imaginative play.

The concept is great, but the playground is frequently a total tip at the end of the day. The big stuff gets cleared away, but there are always scraps of tatty cloth, manky foam and soggy cardboard lying around.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/25/lawmakers-concerned-chemicals-rubber-playgrounds-push-safety-rules
I'd be concerned about the toxicity of the old tyres. They must be covered in petrol and diesel residue, and according to this article in the Guardian, the tyres themselves aren't very wholesome either.

That's interesting @WaltzingToWalsingham. Might re-think the old tires. Though it's a bit alarming to think of the number of playgrounds which have recycled rubber mulch as a protective surface !

Mine love this kind of play.
There is a play scheme van that goes round the parks in the summer, it's full of all sorts of junk, paint, tools etc and the children can just go wild with it.