Last week I was out for a walk with my young nephew. He was enjoying being out and about without his Mum and Dad and showing me the tricks he had learned on his new stunt scooter. He soon tired of this and asked to go to the play park. It was a bit out of our way, but for peace and quiet I agreed to go. I had not been there since it was revamped so did not know what to expect. Previously I remember a rather desolate spot with a few swings, a rather dangerous looking slide and a see-saw. It all looked rather sad and a place to be avoided.
I was greatly surprised to see the new area. How could any child not want to play here? The new play area is fenced off from the rest of the park by attractive wooden fencing, not unlike a fort. Now no dogs can wander in at will. Continuing the fort theme the area for older children is just that - a play fort. All the usual suspects are there - swings, slides, climbing frames and see-saws, but they are all in a context. My nephew bounded in and I watched him skilfully clamber up to the top of the climbing frame, and yes there was a flag there. He then tried out all the other pieces of equipment one by one. Apart from calling on me to admire him from time to time he was totally independent and active.
Then he got chatting to some others his age who were also out with parents and before I knew it they were actively making up a game. Yes, they were indulging in the age old game of cowboys and Indians. The equipment was quickly changed into a cowboy wagon and Indian tepees and a riotous time was being had by all. It was great to see such imagination. But then that is what good play equipment should do, it should stimulate the mind as well as allow for activity and skill development.
It was a shame to call this to a halt, but soon we had to say goodbye and go and retrieve his expensive new scooter which had not provided half the fun of the free play equipment. It just goes to show that the oldies are often the best.
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