The first few playgrounds I saw after arriving in Munich,left me standing and staring, shocked and awed. Not only were they huge but they looked like something out of an America Ninja Warrior episode. So when you see one for the first time, be alarmed, I was too.
German Playgrounds or "Spielplätze" appear to be intentionally designed with an element of risk. There are a few reasons behind this notion that Germany's dangerous playgrounds are, in fact, dangerous on purpose.
1. The Philosophy of Risky Play: Basically, the idea is that controlled risk-taking during childhood can foster essential skills such as problem-solving, resilience, and confidence. By exposing children to moderate risk on the playground, they are given opportunities to learn their own limits and develop the ability to make safer decisions independently. This concept is confirmed by a comment mentioned in The Guardian where Professor Rolf Schwarz of Karlsruhe University of Education, who advises playground designers, states “Playgrounds are islands of free movement in a dangerous motorized environment, if we want children to be prepared for risk, we need to allow them to come into contact with risk.”
2. German Playground Designs: From what I have seen German playgrounds often include unique and unconventional designs. Wooden structures, climbing frames, and natural elements like rocks and trees replace traditional metal slides and plastic playsets that I grew up with. According to Bienenstock, who has been manufacturing natural playgrounds for over two decades, the "natural features" are believed to promote imaginative play, physical activity, an amazing sensory experience, and a connection to nature. While they often look very natural, there is nothing natural about watching your 5-year-old free-climb a wall of sheer, natural rock with nothing to fall onto, but you.
While they often look very natural, there is nothing natural about watching your 5-year-old free-climb a wall of sheer, natural rock with nothing to fall onto, but you.
3. Balancing Safety and Adventure: The critics (it's me, I'm the critics) argue that these playgrounds may lead to an increased risk of injuries. However, most parents here, that I have spoken to, seem to believe that the benefits outweigh the risks. The concept of risky play should not allow for recklessness or a complete disregard for your child's safety. Instead, it should encourage a balanced approach where parents supervise their children but don't intervene unless necessary. The problem here is that "unless necessary" is a very subjective standard.
4. Cultural and Societal Factors: The German perspective on Playgrounds is influenced by their cultural and societal attitudes towards parenting and childhood that values self-reliance, exploration, and personal responsibility, which align with the principles of risky play. I have had a hard time getting used to this, especially when I feel that it can be taken too far. On more than one occasion I have stepped in to to tell older children to wait their turn in a line and to not push over smaller kids, while their parents just sat there and did nothing. Maybe these kinds of instances were unique to those parents and not German parents in general, but I have seen and still see it often enough to agree that it is the cultural norm here to only intervene if things get completely out of hand with your kids. I disagree with this style of parenting as in South Africa you are raised to say "please" and "thank you", and have good manners in general. When you don't display those manners your parents will step in immediately to remind you how to behave in society, whether you are being rude to another child or an adult is irrelevant, manners and rules are important. This is a part of my parenting style that I will not let go of. Sara Zaske, an author at Time Magazine, who is an American mom in Berlin, discusses this style of German parenting in this article, which places a high value on independence and responsibility. She goes on to say that as much as she sees some of the benefits of this style of parenting she cannot let go of her American-rooted parenting style completely.
In summary, yes Germany's playgrounds are dangerous, intentionally. The concept of risky play challenges my more traditional notion of sanitized and supervised play environments. So my take is that while the towering rope climbing structure with zero safety net underneath it, is standard, you have the right to be the cautious parent. I have embraced this new idea of risky play to some degree but when I am in doubt about the safety of a playground for my son, I definitely err on the side of caution and will stand very nearby, just in case.
*All information sources are linked directly in the post.
*All information is provided to the best of our knowledge as of March 2024, but we are not liable for its accuracy or completeness.
My website contains affiliate links, which means that I may (at no extra cost to you) earn a commission or receive a referral fee if you purchase through those links. Please note that the decision to purchase any recommended product or service is entirely up to you, and you are not obligated to use the provided affiliate links. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps to keep this website running. Thank you!