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We now live in a world where the physical and emotional safety of a person is a top priority. It’s a far cry from previous generations, when toughing it out was pretty much the norm.
Take these photos of playgrounds from decades ago, for example. As you can see, these were designed without the child’s well-being in mind. It just goes to show that kids back then were built differently, as they constantly lived on the edge.
If you’re someone who grew up during these times, this list will likely bring a flood of memories. And if you’re a youngster of today, these images may shock you.
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#1
Kid’s Playground In Montreal, 1950s
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#2
Jungle Gyms Were Designed Without Safety Nets. Climbing Structures Were Built High, With No Regard For The Hard Ground Below
#3
The Old Spinning Merry-Go-Rounds Were Both Exhilarating And Terrifying. Those Who Lost Their Grip Were Flung Off Like Human Projectiles, While Others Staggered Away Nauseous
The first playgrounds came about in the early 1900s out of necessity. According to Pennsylvania-based law firm Edgar Snyder & Associates, cities like Pittsburgh installed municipal playgrounds to try to curb the growing number of car accidents involving children under 9 years old.
However, playground safety wasn’t much of a priority during the early days. Most equipment back then was made of galvanized steel and stood on hard surfaces like asphalt.
#4
Corkscrew Slides Made Entirely Of Metal, They Could Heat Up To Unbearable Temperatures Under The Sun, Leaving Riders With Seared Skin
#5
Kids Playground In Mexico City, 1960s
#6
My Grade School's Playground In The 70s
We had this insane jungle gym that we called "the bars". A big fountain and a little creek that ran through the park under the bars and into a brick lined pond. It was the best playground ever. Bar tag was the top activity. There were spots you could make a leap of faith to avoid getting tagged. Knocked the wind out of myself several times when I missed the grab.
Of course, injuries like broken arms began to pile up due to the lack of safety. According to Edgar Snyder, it wasn’t until 1938 that the National Recreation Association acknowledged the need for safer surface materials.
However, none of them offered workable solutions. Despite the publication of recommendations for safer playgrounds, structures were still built on either asphalt or concrete in the succeeding decades.
#7
Slide In Holland, 1972
#8
Gravity Was As Unforgiving Then As It Is Today. A Simple Misstep Could Lead To An Abrupt Drop, Often Resulting In Cuts, Bruises, Or Even A Trip To The ER
#9
Metal Slides In The 1970s Offered A Thrilling, High-Speed, But Under The Blazing Summer Sun, They Turned Into Searing Hot Surfaces
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 months ago (edited)
I'm thinking back to all the slides from when I was a kid and they were all surrounded by trees. Then I remembered I'm from Oregon and it's not like that everywhere else.
By the late '70s, governing bodies began recognizing the need for more precautions. It likely happened after the National Electronic Injury Survey System found that 59% of playground injuries resulted from falls to hard surfaces.
Around this time, citizen groups and professionals alike began clamoring for increased safety standards and regulations. By 1981, the Consumer Product Safety Commission published extensive guidelines.
#10
This Playground Was Located Just South Of Kepner Hall. Playgrounds Were An Innovation In Education In The Early 20th Century
#11
Modernist Playground, 1971
#12
Playground In 1924 May
In 1995, the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) launched National Playground Safety Week. It was a small initiative that began at the University of Iowa, which eventually garnered international recognition.
“While the strategies, research, and initiatives have evolved, our mission remains the same – to raise awareness about playground safety and the necessity for appropriate, healthy spaces to support child development and well-being,” NPPS director Hannah Jaros said.
#13
Monash Playground In The Early 1980s
#14
Hiawatha Playfield, 1912
Steep ladders were very common. One overconfident move or a moment of hesitation could send a child tumbling backward.
#15
Zurich, Playground Aussersihl, "Rope Circus" 1978
Today, playgrounds are a far cry from their rustic predecessors. In Queensland, these recreational areas come with a tin roof as a way to protect the structures from the elements.
As Park Planning Coordinator Tracie Harvison tells ABC Australia, the goal isn’t only to provide shade, but also to keep the equipment functional and in top condition.
#16
Armstrong Academy, Oklahoma - Homemade Playground Apparatus. 1912
#17
My Young Family Visited The Monash Playground In The Early 1980's
#18
The First (Somewhat Dangerous) Playground Slide In Britain (1922)
Harvison also revealed a shift in their approach to building playground structures. From merely catering to physical, strength-based activities, she says, they are also planning ways to make playgrounds about the “whole range of developmental needs for children.”
"There are also other aspects they’ve realised are really important, such as imaginative play and socialising aspects, so kids develop their social skills,” she said.
#19
Play Structure, Photographed At Earth Rebirth Day Rally, Berkeley, California, 1970
#20
Columbus Ave Playground. Boys Exercising
#21
Teeter-Totters Were Trust Exercises. If One Child Decided To Jump Off, The Other Would Come Crashing Down With Enough Force To Leave Them Bruised
Uncle Panda 2 months ago (edited)
This was also the heavier kids' revenge. If you didn't have similar mass, they could keep you up there until the end of recess. I did eventually learn to drop off.
#22
Outdoor Gymnasium And Playground, Chicago, Il (1903)
#23
Summer - On A Children's City Playground 1926
Uncle Panda 2 months ago
Many of the slides are weird because the angle is too flat to 'slide.' This one looks more like a 'scootch.' It's like somebody saw a picture of a slide and made one, but left out the verb that provided the fun. Those kids are sitting still.
#24
Playground At Blågårds Plads, 1953
Lina Bisgaard 2 months ago
I'm not sure but I think I played there as a kid in the early 90's. Today it's a playground for drunk people (and also for Events) and that's quite sad as well.
#25
A Home Made Ferris Wheel. Erected On The American Red Cross Playground At Elbasan. 1920
The picture shows American Nurses who took a trip to prove its safety to the children. The children in Albania never knew how to play or work either until the Red Cross came.
Eastendbird 2 months ago
"The children in Albania never knew how to play or work either until the Red Cross came"... I call BS on this weird statement,
#26
Playground Scene. Irwinville School, Georgia, 1938 May
#27
N.Y. Playground 1910
#28
Girls' Playground, Harriet Island, St. Paul, Minn. 1905
Uncle Panda 2 months ago (edited)
We had climbing ropes to the top of the gymnasium, three stories up. Luckily, I was good at the ropes (unlike everything else in gym class) but I remember seeing kids come down hard, sliding out of control and splatting at the bottom of the rope with evil looking friction burns. Even in 2nd grade, I was asking "what happens if a kid falls from the top?" It had to happen.
#30
Playground Between 1918 And 1920
#31
1913 Playground
#32
Bad Lausick. Bethlehemstift, Playground
Grumpy old man 2 months ago
FYI: Anything "BAD" is really Bath. The D is a Thorn, TH. Any town in Europe with BAD just means it had a Roman Bath.
#33
Children In A Nice Playground The Tel Aviv Municipality Built Near The Hayarkon River
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What do you think ?
Gertrude VonSpitzbart 2 months ago
It wasn't that it made kids tougher. It made them better at judging risk, making risk based decisions, and being responsible for their own safety. Important skills. These days its always someone else's fault....
David 2 months ago
yup, and you see how bored little kids get at the parks today as well bc the things are boring bc they are super safe. We need a balance between the two
Load More Replies...
AtMostAFabulist 2 months ago (edited)
In grade school we had a metal jungle gym ish thing. It was like a dome with 4 sides and open on the top. Height was about 5 feet. The big challenge was to walk up one side, over the top and down the other. Preferably with a partner so you could hold hands. Of course this was over cement.
Gertrude VonSpitzbart 2 months ago
It wasn't that it made kids tougher. It made them better at judging risk, making risk based decisions, and being responsible for their own safety. Important skills. These days its always someone else's fault....
David 2 months ago
yup, and you see how bored little kids get at the parks today as well bc the things are boring bc they are super safe. We need a balance between the two
Load More Replies... AtMostAFabulist 2 months ago (edited)
In grade school we had a metal jungle gym ish thing. It was like a dome with 4 sides and open on the top. Height was about 5 feet. The big challenge was to walk up one side, over the top and down the other. Preferably with a partner so you could hold hands. Of course this was over cement.
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