The Power of Play - Where children spend their days in mixed-age groups, engaging in self-directed play and exploration.... this leads to the development of socially, intellectually, and emotionally healthy adults.

The concept for unstructured, adventure playgrounds originated in Europe after World War II, where Lady Marjory Allen, a landscape architect and children’s advocate, studied children playing in the “normal” asphalt and cement playgrounds. She found that they preferred playing with parts that they could move around and manipulate to make their own makeshift structures.

Self-directed learning and free play permit children to realize their optimum abilities to learn, grow, and develop naturally and positively.

“Playing with other children, away from adults, is how children learn to make their own decisions, control their emotions and impulses, see from others - perspectives, negotiate differences with others, and make friends.” - Peter Gray, from Free to Learn

Not only do playworker-run unstructured playgrounds represent the future of playgrounds, they seem to provide a glimpse into the future of schooling, too. Today, teachers - especially in America, are gravitating toward more active, child-directed pedagogical methods that look similar to what is observed on the adventure playground, project-based learning, “Maker-Spaces“, and “Genius hour.“

Return the joy, fun, and excitement to learning and education through the power of play and self-directed learning and exploration!