Playgrounds

/ˈpleɪɡraʊndz/ noun

Definition

Areas of land with equipment like swings and slides designed for children to play and exercise safely.

Etymology

From English 'play' (from Old English 'plegan,' to exercise playfully) combined with 'ground.' The concept emerged in the late 1800s during the children's welfare movement in industrial cities.

Kelly Says

The modern playground movement started in Boston in the 1880s when reformers realized kids in industrial cities had no safe place to play and were turning to crime out of boredom. Now playgrounds are in 185+ countries, but they're designed very differently based on culture—some emphasize risk and adventure, others emphasize safety.

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