Children today are a lot more protected than they were in days of old, but not everyone thinks that’s a good thing. The Post-Gazette states that children today are subject to a lot more structured play and time when they’re told what to do, rather than free time to run around, explore, and use their imaginations. Recess time has been cut down in order to make way for more education and practice for standardized tests.

School playgrounds are used a lot less used than they once were. The flip side of the coin is that playgrounds are a lot safer, with rubber mulch flooring and innovative playground equipment. As opposed to hard blacktop, grass, or wood chips, rubber flooring in playgrounds adds an added measure of shock absorbency, and prevents injuries in children. Experts see it as a waste that schools and cities invest so much effort in providing playground safety, with rubber wear mats and rubber mulch flooring, but the playgrounds are not used to the fullest extent.

Child development experts bemoan the tragedy of children who sit inside pushing buttons on a game that somebody else created, rather than pumping their legs on swings or running around in a game of tag. Adults are all for protein shakes and yoga classes, but where is some good old running in the park with the kids?

In the same vein, the amount of children enrolled in structured sports has greatly increased, with every parent hoping their child will be the best by enrolling them in everything from soccer practice to ballet classes. As important as actual book learning is, music, art, and sports classes where children can allow their minds to expand and be creative is vital. Homework has increased dramatically over the years, with educators hoping to cram in all the learning while children are still young. Developmentally, it is important for children to learn through their own unorthodox means, through exploration and discovery.

With more knowledge available today about vaccines, germs, and other important risk factors, kids are definitely safer. The Playsafer rubber mulch used in playgrounds also contribute to this. But are we raising a generation of safe and healthy adults who will be zombies, with no creative ideas? As important as safety and structure is, it is vital for children to have free time to play and learn naturally.