General Discussion

Zoeisright

(8,339 posts)

26. In 4th grade, I broke my thumb on one of the old playgrounds.

Reply to The Straight Story (Original post)

Fri Feb 3, 2012, 03:32 AM

Feb 2012

Blacktop under the swings. That was 40 years ago. My husband got a concussion when a rope swing unraveled IN MIDAIR, his heels caught on a fence and he went down right on his head. On blacktop. Don't tell me that safer playgrounds are bad.

I don't think it's the "safer" playgrounds; those have saved lives and prevented many injuries. It's that kids have so many other sedentary things to pique their interest like computers and television. And it's more interesting to play Wii than just swing on swings.

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Highlight:

New Playgrounds Are Safe�and That's Why Nobody Uses Them [View all] The Straight Story Feb 2012 OP

I remember the swings Turbineguy Feb 2012 #1

Wow. Instant flashback. Jackpine Radical Feb 2012 #3

It is not a swing unless you can pump it up and see over the bar. Downwinder Feb 2012 #10

Nothing like a metal slide on a hot summer day--in shorts! TwilightGardener Feb 2012 #2

Especially in Florida. We left pieces of our ass seared on to those things. geomon666 Feb 2012 #8

my brother and I called those spinning things... Javaman Feb 2012 #35

Merry go rounds were my addiction LastLiberal in PalmSprings Feb 2012 #4

We had one just like that!! RandySF Feb 2012 #6

Those things were probably the most dangerous. trackfan Feb 2012 #11

And the nausea and vomiting! Gormy Cuss Feb 2012 #31

I remember the good old days. RandySF Feb 2012 #5

did u guys used to use wax paper on the really long metal slides? super zooming nt msongs Feb 2012 #7

yup :) /nt think Feb 2012 #9

We would slide gravel down the slide... cyberswede Feb 2012 #12

that's how my collarbone got broken when I was a kid! provis99 Feb 2012 #19

Ow! dmr Feb 2012 #21

no - damn.. now I wish I had nadine_mn Feb 2012 #23

Wow, that brings back a memory! nt Javaman Feb 2012 #37

Or maybe they are more interested in their Nintendos and Sony PSPs. progressoid Feb 2012 #13

I remember when my elementary school installed a new playground. white_wolf Feb 2012 #14

Back in my day (hehe) The Genealogist Feb 2012 #15

Your comment about getting sick remnided me of tire swings. white_wolf Feb 2012 #16

Oh yes, tire swings are fun! The Genealogist Feb 2012 #18

At our school, we had tractor tires, blueamy66 Feb 2012 #24

I still have scars. Lugnut Feb 2012 #22

It was a badge of honor... scars to point to that said you nadine_mn Feb 2012 #25

Everyone should be familiar with this clip: kentauros Feb 2012 #17

the big red rockets were my favorite..... rppper Feb 2012 #20

In 4th grade, I broke my thumb on one of the old playgrounds. Zoeisright Feb 2012 #26

The parents encourage those interests ... surrealAmerican Feb 2012 #27

Ah, wax paper on a metal slide. Lots of fun until kid almost hung himself on it. Gone next day. nt Hoyt Feb 2012 #28

Can't agree completely - at least now they have soft surfaces Patiod Feb 2012 #29

When I was in grammar school in the 50s, MineralMan Feb 2012 #30

Not one person has mentioned the most significant difference hedgehog Feb 2012 #32

When my kids were younger, we lived in a very small rural town, and they walked to school TwilightGardener Feb 2012 #33

The key to preventing "stranger danger" is to have a number of adults hedgehog Feb 2012 #34

Although my sister and I walked to school from an early age when other kids were walking too Nikia Feb 2012 #38

When I was eight years old, in 1956 ....... oldhippie Feb 2012 #40

My favorite was old rusted monkey bars built over concrete which was... Javaman Feb 2012 #36

not always mimitabby Feb 2012 #39