The Playground Years

It's hard to believe that 20 to 30 years ago, primary school playgrounds where just vast empty spaces of tarmac, surrounded by a little bit of grass. The most excitement to be had was a game of football stretching across the playground, with innocent by-standers regularly getting a wack on the head by a mis-judged football. There is the well used phrase of "jumpers for goalposts", but genuinely that is all there was.

If a school was lucky, they may have some line markings, or maybe even a set of kwik-cricket were players would launch a tennis ball as far as possible, often ending up in local residents gardens. For those who weren't in to sports, there was little else to do apart from standing on the side lines.

For those not taking part in the football, often games of British Bulldog would breakout, with large numbers of children sprinting across the tarmac as fast as possible, trying theire best not to get caught. There were of course fads that appeared on the playgrounds, with yo-yos one of the biggest crazes, coming into fashion then going out, before coming back in. Another popular game were Pogs, with players throwing down Slammers as hard and as accurate as possible to "flip" the pogs for the player to claim.

Pogs

Yet as for physical "playground" equipment there was very little. Trim trails were unheard of, and MUGAs were a thing of the future. In more recent times there has been massive investment from schools to provide not only recreational equipment, but also equipment that serves a purpose and offers educational value. Simple chalkboards offer chances to show creativity, and 4 way shoots can be used to enchance co-ordination skills. There has also been an increase in nature areas, including products such as planters, bird feeders and digging areas to teach children about nature and how plants and animals grow.

The playground is now not just an area for children to run about in, they are almost a fully blown outdoor classroom; the complete educational tool.