tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38772304602070202302024-01-02T02:10:56.414-08:00world's childrenThe Kids and Family On The worldAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.comBlogger505125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-7750729003680041612012-07-05T08:32:00.000-07:002012-07-05T08:32:40.899-07:00Vacation Ideas for Families With Young Children<div style="text-align: justify;">Parents with young kids have special needs that other travelers never even think about. Between frequent feedings, diaper changes, nap times, and the additional hassle of finding ways to cart your kid around wherever you go, you might start to think that a family vacation is more trouble than it’s worth, especially if you’re trying to wrangle wandering toddlers while simultaneously tending to an infant. In short, your days of taking off on impromptu weekend vacations are over. You need to put some serious planning into any travel arrangements involving kids. So here are a few ideas that are bound to make for a fun trip for all.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14288" height="372" src="http://mommiesmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Vacations-ideas-for-families-with-young-children.jpg" title="Vacations ideas for families with young children" width="560" /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One vacation option to consider is visiting a theme park. For many kids this type of larger-than-life adventure is amazing even when they’re still very little. There are rides galore for kids of all ages, so even if your little ones don’t yet reach the height requirement for roller coasters they can still go on wild rides created specifically for children of smaller stature. Plus there are bound to be plenty of characters wandering around the park, interesting shows occurring throughout the day (perhaps even a parade), and plenty of places to grab a tantalizing snack. For many parents, this can be a fun outing, as well, especially when seeing the wonder on kids’ faces. Of course, it all depends on your kids. Some tiny tots may get motion sickness while others could be afraid of the costumed characters. But considering these parks are made with kids in mind, most young visitors will have the time of their lives.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You could also go for other types of parks, though, like national parks, for example. Most kids love to run wild outdoors and this is likely a far less expensive entertainment option than a theme park. You can take the opportunity to wear the kids out walking through ancient forests, hiking to waterfalls, or exploring underground caverns. Or you could hop on a burro and head into the Grand Canyon. Very small children will probably enjoy the many sights and sounds of the outdoors (provided the weather doesn’t make them too uncomfortable) while younger school-age children will no doubt pepper you with questions about the site you’re visiting, creating an educational opportunity. Either way it’s bound to offer the beauty and relaxation that only nature can provide.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for amenities on your trip, you may need to do some research to find establishments that cater to families with kids. Most hotels come with suites or at least adjoining rooms, but you may want to seek out lodgings that include with convenient options like food (at least a continental breakfast, if not a restaurant), a swimming pool, and even sitter services (a good concierge will have a nanny service on file). You may even seek out hotels and resorts that cater to kids with attractions, events, or classes meant to keep them occupied. And if you’re worried about waking the neighbors with a crying baby, look into bed and breakfasts; they have fewer guests and in some ways they can be far more accommodating to a family traveling with young kids in terms of privacy and other considerations.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-4801976279202189212012-06-21T08:39:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.819-07:00More Playground Crochet from Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghIVOG4YyZAnY5eh2oOfpM6xqgKo4AyVv5WcerI_gewX6Hf6VvFzou32lyqxESOvQ-2fflAsBhXWW96tkKhURUgUL-93wrn5wuDLjBklxSI4JpRt-hSTJoMeCo5lm1o5TsuKASa9azxA/s1600/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+net+playground+playscape5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghIVOG4YyZAnY5eh2oOfpM6xqgKo4AyVv5WcerI_gewX6Hf6VvFzou32lyqxESOvQ-2fflAsBhXWW96tkKhURUgUL-93wrn5wuDLjBklxSI4JpRt-hSTJoMeCo5lm1o5TsuKASa9azxA/s640/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+net+playground+playscape5.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_uAQNzKFEdOVLLcBzPWf7tgXGp-Su04bgdriec89O4I0MgjtdsoCXt_DQk8l5aO9tU0Faq0as4BvVANB5-DAGF-44wHBP3QjNnrUVwTPg5jXm99fowJWi4zUoPwmQZj-sw_22Oep5XQ/s1600/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+net+playground+playscape6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_uAQNzKFEdOVLLcBzPWf7tgXGp-Su04bgdriec89O4I0MgjtdsoCXt_DQk8l5aO9tU0Faq0as4BvVANB5-DAGF-44wHBP3QjNnrUVwTPg5jXm99fowJWi4zUoPwmQZj-sw_22Oep5XQ/s640/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+net+playground+playscape6.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />The<a href="http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/2011/10/playground-crochet-by-toshiko-horiuchi.html"> post about the crochet playground constructions of Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam</a> is one of the most popular ever here at <i>Playscapes</i> (second only to the <a href="http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/2011/01/puckelball-pitch-worlds-first-johan.html">Puckelball Pitch</a> in page views).<br /><br />It has been a bit difficult to find information on Toshiko's work, as most of the locations are in Japan. But the MacAdams have recently launched their own <a href="http://web.me.com/interplaydesign/NetPlayWorks/Home.html">site with more information about their unique playscapes, which they call NetPlayWorks</a>...you can now see a comprehensive list of locations, as well as previously unavailable photos of each, a small selection of which are seen below. Oh, the eye candy...don't you feel happy just looking at these!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWbFe1miIluNCA64-vrBcaslt8Fk6VXzIscyG2dUfBZ9lKf5NjHkPP2Yiw6zPzEvA0BzSJzAfEjDXD97YPYeqG2A9RVGXZNTQ6gt5I0zu12MhyphenhyphensXSSpgd22nOmOl21e5G4UywLgB34boo/s1600/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+net+playground+playscape8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWbFe1miIluNCA64-vrBcaslt8Fk6VXzIscyG2dUfBZ9lKf5NjHkPP2Yiw6zPzEvA0BzSJzAfEjDXD97YPYeqG2A9RVGXZNTQ6gt5I0zu12MhyphenhyphensXSSpgd22nOmOl21e5G4UywLgB34boo/s640/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+net+playground+playscape8.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhFg7PHejiDVwjASixS4oZewVGJM0h_i88-9bgRCJ7LEzGwKwEgRGYrz9-sai2R_W_d-rfALWUcFN90o1AIAUyYTBH4Lu0jU8TgnNAbQaJ3Q7rruLnarRfUAjrbtAZRhnedOvyEg_9FQ/s1600/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+net+playground+playscape7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhFg7PHejiDVwjASixS4oZewVGJM0h_i88-9bgRCJ7LEzGwKwEgRGYrz9-sai2R_W_d-rfALWUcFN90o1AIAUyYTBH4Lu0jU8TgnNAbQaJ3Q7rruLnarRfUAjrbtAZRhnedOvyEg_9FQ/s640/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+net+playground+playscape7.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCt4wF2DQBjilrsX_KWKQ70SEDSyP5ixPFvqKcvVu-kX7MF3DGudi1aqm10471qw3SNYOlUJ4Qy5w1mIe7aPsiYep_V2RMj78-rAoDkPhwfEsThE_YBNQ1uKcxbpgvPsb5BOMWcGe4gX4/s1600/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+net+playground+playscape9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCt4wF2DQBjilrsX_KWKQ70SEDSyP5ixPFvqKcvVu-kX7MF3DGudi1aqm10471qw3SNYOlUJ4Qy5w1mIe7aPsiYep_V2RMj78-rAoDkPhwfEsThE_YBNQ1uKcxbpgvPsb5BOMWcGe4gX4/s640/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+net+playground+playscape9.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBhYSQJq-6Gb142SBLTHTYBF3BLbVXU480RLH9qKltuARDP14pojPJUoxpXeet9nTNc54TEEJblhwzwQ0-D0oHYaH7mkp0Pp5Ld-tsR45Wzdr8HGbSbL1APql4s9phkuW34HgeOEVsO4/s1600/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+net+playground+playscape10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBhYSQJq-6Gb142SBLTHTYBF3BLbVXU480RLH9qKltuARDP14pojPJUoxpXeet9nTNc54TEEJblhwzwQ0-D0oHYaH7mkp0Pp5Ld-tsR45Wzdr8HGbSbL1APql4s9phkuW34HgeOEVsO4/s640/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+net+playground+playscape10.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHLEs0EVE4ydXFo2wvRO5eac-yXvsyd_3x-zP7G6M9qzjD0myWSgWtwbmwATlYzXKhSRf4XGxNx286orZivDQZvFf1l5YNA1MsbXxXCnTE90-4EhhBZHtNcJXV5rXuxRYKMGYLeSfeIc/s1600/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+playground+playscape1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHLEs0EVE4ydXFo2wvRO5eac-yXvsyd_3x-zP7G6M9qzjD0myWSgWtwbmwATlYzXKhSRf4XGxNx286orZivDQZvFf1l5YNA1MsbXxXCnTE90-4EhhBZHtNcJXV5rXuxRYKMGYLeSfeIc/s640/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+playground+playscape1.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdXYBuDiTSXdO6A6NOp7WIxqCwY5fIDpPGPBYBlu5YMJcNag06M6Yg5_ocu4259RiNet4py13iQpBY-kOz8eBE_XDtKG9vYxGLWgE1EM4qS14x4nRuwaT3ApQ9AaO3ze47Y7ucdDooxI/s1600/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+playground+playscape2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdXYBuDiTSXdO6A6NOp7WIxqCwY5fIDpPGPBYBlu5YMJcNag06M6Yg5_ocu4259RiNet4py13iQpBY-kOz8eBE_XDtKG9vYxGLWgE1EM4qS14x4nRuwaT3ApQ9AaO3ze47Y7ucdDooxI/s640/toshiko+horiuchi+macadam+crochet+knit+playground+playscape2.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-35722847669550145732012-06-19T14:48:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.819-07:00Fairy Houses and Forts, Powell Gardens, Kansas City, 2012Temporary installations, like the <a href="http://www.powellgardens.org/page.aspx?pid=527">Fairy Houses and Forts exhibition at Powell Gardens in Kansas City</a>, running from May 19 til October 7, are a great opportunity to explore new interpretations of old classics like the playhouse.<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhb6tKPMBVyHWqt8-H0lcWCA-05vqlAnj02UUSechlLJLVofxXuS7YkAhGsPpcTrZc9Gson3Ahd2JQMhREHfDrv-njD6NVFS_GDA5c1u5ODWYRVV86BcikVjiTaz9S6E7VVUHdA4wibw/s1600/powell+gardens+playhouse6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhb6tKPMBVyHWqt8-H0lcWCA-05vqlAnj02UUSechlLJLVofxXuS7YkAhGsPpcTrZc9Gson3Ahd2JQMhREHfDrv-njD6NVFS_GDA5c1u5ODWYRVV86BcikVjiTaz9S6E7VVUHdA4wibw/s640/powell+gardens+playhouse6.jpg" width="500" /></a></div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79SpnwhZTs1ebQg3uOJwyS4UvByjSDGr4XEhNpeboYkVgY3Mbn_2hCJd_IE7-9r5qzXemRnQWSgfwoWXc2QskizxCDd2CMG6BXkYPFPTpGjSo7YRZemJp_vqNLyB-utgpt8mjsVEv-9c/s1600/powell+gardens+playhouse7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79SpnwhZTs1ebQg3uOJwyS4UvByjSDGr4XEhNpeboYkVgY3Mbn_2hCJd_IE7-9r5qzXemRnQWSgfwoWXc2QskizxCDd2CMG6BXkYPFPTpGjSo7YRZemJp_vqNLyB-utgpt8mjsVEv-9c/s640/powell+gardens+playhouse7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Light Wings Pavilion by DA+UD </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"></b></span>is constructed of otherwise unusable 2x4 drops, a common waste product of any construction site, to make a larger structure reminiscent of <a href="http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/2012/03/diy-playground-2-playhive-playhouse-by.html">Thoughtbarn's Playhive</a>. Cut-outs in the roof and walls cast illuminated fairy wings into the space; children can interact with the light, imagining themselves with their own fairy wings. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hWm4dfpnllXK6QFzBvb8M3Ue1WAPUewTA8w2xJNvQXizT705r8BV-DXS5WtsRMDdE18n0C3PJBCiAUgjyjs9_TBTKAEaEaK6DXYpJlx1mfEo30QvUL5Q-jWHlF4Y_6rsnaL-U6JNS-s/s1600/powell+gardens+playhouse1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hWm4dfpnllXK6QFzBvb8M3Ue1WAPUewTA8w2xJNvQXizT705r8BV-DXS5WtsRMDdE18n0C3PJBCiAUgjyjs9_TBTKAEaEaK6DXYpJlx1mfEo30QvUL5Q-jWHlF4Y_6rsnaL-U6JNS-s/s640/powell+gardens+playhouse1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Denise DiPiazzo of Red Trike Studios built a icy cool house bisected by a tunnel.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKf0P7MiWrx4oAX8GSewL2S6o4yVyFkTFyF8rZnncUqIiOb32qRTepRvFY9vaMUyMaanCLlStbjqaP_c-V3RON0Cz-HbHQtQ9OtSn-7nTOexj62YL3rK5A79x7oWl-8Lvqs1QFhsBF6cY/s1600/powell+gardens+playhouse5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKf0P7MiWrx4oAX8GSewL2S6o4yVyFkTFyF8rZnncUqIiOb32qRTepRvFY9vaMUyMaanCLlStbjqaP_c-V3RON0Cz-HbHQtQ9OtSn-7nTOexj62YL3rK5A79x7oWl-8Lvqs1QFhsBF6cY/s640/powell+gardens+playhouse5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b></b>Kelly Cook and George Berry created a Fairy Outpost, using many found and natural materials. I love the addition of community chalkboards! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-J_z-JYGD836zQ3MAs2mYpDVuBYktt59gLxfd8WN-13WnTCQQz5Kaye07K_dRysMZdIYN1xbR6lqeZA_FESmFDP0R0kTybW6epEkkMKta0vgX8rq9L6qXVmWV2NhOsU3ZKjF5aOOluA/s1600/powell+gardens+playhouse4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-J_z-JYGD836zQ3MAs2mYpDVuBYktt59gLxfd8WN-13WnTCQQz5Kaye07K_dRysMZdIYN1xbR6lqeZA_FESmFDP0R0kTybW6epEkkMKta0vgX8rq9L6qXVmWV2NhOsU3ZKjF5aOOluA/s640/powell+gardens+playhouse4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>LaMair Design Studio, Inc. built a pyramid from recycled wood, peeled log poles and translucent plastic "jewels" that filter soft light into the interior. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2POjxMaLfMFloWrPKN4AToDc4RsCD0pepvhlIgw6c-JhGDbdiV4Ff80wOtoZ3GuT2xF1KpD4fu30iW5DTF0WquAkwTuCS9UM3CLVZIcXiaVYQRFjQ-C4HFqROsWtnPzSOXWT0lFdXeA4/s1600/powell+gardens+playhouse2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2POjxMaLfMFloWrPKN4AToDc4RsCD0pepvhlIgw6c-JhGDbdiV4Ff80wOtoZ3GuT2xF1KpD4fu30iW5DTF0WquAkwTuCS9UM3CLVZIcXiaVYQRFjQ-C4HFqROsWtnPzSOXWT0lFdXeA4/s640/powell+gardens+playhouse2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8R2Lqn7sibLtFvL-cg6a5HRMwibAJejkxCbh4m0gDuHcXp-CqxUm-vbAjEJ63OumXp9dvbjrsYBCHaHmXkZ7KVmSj9gns8vf_0GetkhKAdGE56X-kSuNJvcjopVIk1PJZ0pnTCJMaqKo/s1600/powell+gardens+playhouse3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8R2Lqn7sibLtFvL-cg6a5HRMwibAJejkxCbh4m0gDuHcXp-CqxUm-vbAjEJ63OumXp9dvbjrsYBCHaHmXkZ7KVmSj9gns8vf_0GetkhKAdGE56X-kSuNJvcjopVIk1PJZ0pnTCJMaqKo/s640/powell+gardens+playhouse3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> And Norwegian Wood built a fort that hides in plain sight...from mirrored safety glass. The top of its tower has a giant periscope for viewing the treescape, and there are small holes in the glass for spy viewing. <br /><br />[All photos of these great projects are via the Powell Gardens website; I couldn't find website information for the project designers. If you have them, please let me know! First found at the <a href="http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/40181#more-40181">Architect's Newspaper blog</a>.]<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-5818115404373819192012-06-18T06:03:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.820-07:00Boys Underwear - Fashion Plus Comfort!<br /><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Wearing fashionable underwear with perfect fit not only ensures comfort but also adds to your overall looks. Talking about beauty here does not imply that it is meant only for girls and women; even boys underwear has to be perfect yet fashionable that makes them look cool and handsome. Today, be it boys or girls, everyone loves to wear sexy lingerie from renowned brands, as it completes one's fashion statement. Low waist jeans with branded underwear are in vogue among boys. Owing to increased demand and craze among today's generation, Calvin Klein, Spanx, Fruit of the Loom and many other brands have launched their collection of undergarments for both men and women. These designer underwears spell fashion plus comfort.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">There was a time when underwears were meant for wealthy men only, because it was very expensive then. But now it is a necessity for a common man and more of a fashion garment for the modern men. It became affordable for people in the 18th century, as linen was introduced at reasonable prices. Linen was also preferred for boys underwears because of being comfortable. Thereafter, a lot of transformation was seen in boys underwear.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhm2OQ9nvrdBlOtnk-vbIZTOu0ic4B_TGiBWTeER87LkQx6CIvP86NdatUMU0xPABtC-Q-F6It2b6_lfj9vfQia_kJ2t58s-nX6HmbWedVvrdeY2s4oGvbRbz4PSt6IE39ue9hGW7ZSoZu/s1600/Boys-underwear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhm2OQ9nvrdBlOtnk-vbIZTOu0ic4B_TGiBWTeER87LkQx6CIvP86NdatUMU0xPABtC-Q-F6It2b6_lfj9vfQia_kJ2t58s-nX6HmbWedVvrdeY2s4oGvbRbz4PSt6IE39ue9hGW7ZSoZu/s320/Boys-underwear.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Underwear for boys does not differ much apparently from men's underwear, but there is a difference of sizes and styles. Usually, boys underwear used to include briefs and shorts. But now numerous categories are added for briefs as well as for shorts. Now boys can find not only casual briefs but also sports briefs, boxer briefs, hip briefs and many more as their underwear. Muscular men prefer to wear briefs with specific cuts that enhance their assets. Similarly, there is a wide range of boys underwear in sports category. These underwears are tailor-made with particular fabric and cuts as per the requirement of specific sport. Made with high performance quality fabric, such underwears provide ample space for ventilation and manage the moisture well. The micro-fibers used provide perfect stretch while working out in a gym or playing a sport. The entire collection of boys underwear is prepared keeping the spectrum of usage in mind. Even for the boys, their underwears are designed specially keeping their active nature in mind.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">The changing trends have brought modifications not in the style but in the fabric of boys underwears. For swimming purposes, underwears for men are made mainly with nylon. Besides nylon, underwears for men are made with lycra, elastene, Polyamide, etc. At any point of time, cotton is still the first choice of people. Men's underwear stores are flooded with all sorts of underwears. They are available in various sizes, colors, patterns and designs in these stores. Colors may range from basic neutral shades to vibrant hues. Patterns can also vary from common checks and stripes to cartoons and super heroes. One can pick up these underwears according to his size. Plus sizes or XXL are also available for obese or people who are on heavier side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju31fWUKtatlDmE4YJM0126ZPjrQkuPwG2IZT_u2Kzop_r7hJ4KDnaSOKk6jHzRnklodiDXMbOpN9LWuVQ1GleHt_atFw3Wg7Kl3eOT5AHPqUOMkGTe9PN-q7-8jFLKCH5rNdFgveQkvHU/s1600/IMG_9241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju31fWUKtatlDmE4YJM0126ZPjrQkuPwG2IZT_u2Kzop_r7hJ4KDnaSOKk6jHzRnklodiDXMbOpN9LWuVQ1GleHt_atFw3Wg7Kl3eOT5AHPqUOMkGTe9PN-q7-8jFLKCH5rNdFgveQkvHU/s320/IMG_9241.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Many of the clothing brands have launched their collection of men's underwear and sexy lingerie. These brands introduce their collection of designer underwears every season. Available in wide range, their collections always offer fresh styles to the customers. What's more! They are designed and tailor-made to an extent that it fits perfectly to anyone, as the material used is stretchable in nature. There are reversible underwears also.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">The most advantageous part of these branded undergarments and sexy lingerie is quality of the fabric used. High quality fabric prevents infections and allergies caused by the undergarments. Any compromise can lead to serious effects. Additionally, these branded undergarments are prepared with utmost care after testing the fabric for various quality tests.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">The stores of these popular brands are available all across the globe. But still there is an option for online shopping. If you are also looking for some sexy lingerie and boys underwear, then you can browse web and look at the designs and options offered by various brands. Most of them have online presence. You can browse their official sites and check out their catalogues. Add your favorite stuff to your shopping cart and later you can purchase them online only. Place your order from the comfort of your home and get the delivery at your doorstep.</div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-5508773683738589"; /* KIDS728bott */ google_ad_slot = "0806540600"; google_ad_width = 728; google_ad_height = 90; //--></script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><br /><br />Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6268018</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-40483965237824073862012-06-14T22:38:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.820-07:00The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces (with vintage Adventure Playgrounds), William Whyte, NYC, 1980<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/21556697?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br /><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/21556697">William H. Whyte - Social Life of Small Urban Places</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/robinvanemden">Robin van Emden</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br /><br />William H. Whyte's film "The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces" is an urban planning classic. Whyte moves through the mid-century plazas of New York City in a direct, shoe leather observation of why some spaces work, and some don't; complete with old school charts and graphs.<br /> <br />You really should watch the whole thing (it's 58 minutes)--the architecture and people are a delight--but pay particular attention to the footage of Harlem street play and kids in an adventure playground, at 1:30 - 2:40, and Whyte's surprising observation that the playground space was actually under, not over, utilized.<br /><br />Every designer of outdoor space should be required to watch Whyte's discussion of the characteristics of a good bench, and many of his observations apply to playgrounds just as well as plazas:<br /><br /><i>"The number one activity is people looking at other people, but it is a point that is overlooked in many many designs"</i><br /><br /><i>"Visual enjoyment </i>(of a site from the street)<i>, this secondary use, is every bit as important as the primary use." </i><br /><br /><i>"The 'corner' is a sociable space."</i><br /><br /><i>"People don't like to talk in the middle of a large space. They like to find places like steps, edges, flagpoles."</i><br /><br /><i>"The places that people like best are those which open to the action but are slightly recessed, slightly protected. You get a caving feeling. Just a few honey locusts overhead will do it." </i><br /><br /><i>"To make a place like this work, you must unfence it!"</i><br /><br />Read more about <a href="http://www.pps.org/reference/wwhyte/">William Whyte at the Project for Public Spaces</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-69630600681075369412012-06-06T14:45:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.820-07:00Real Stuff on the Playground: Geopark, Helen and Hard, Stavanger Norway, 2008<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZcFiRUrjwrXew8EhQ2ArUxUeF03nfzF4jzm1iVrGWmRxmp6XzeGt__yR1cl864VOIHfVjVU5cJDMwK_K1eYPz9hGQVMbcTn6OaBb41a5XN7f9EN_G6e-xaHjCrlgmYMou6eq0hYB-lQ/s1600/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZcFiRUrjwrXew8EhQ2ArUxUeF03nfzF4jzm1iVrGWmRxmp6XzeGt__yR1cl864VOIHfVjVU5cJDMwK_K1eYPz9hGQVMbcTn6OaBb41a5XN7f9EN_G6e-xaHjCrlgmYMou6eq0hYB-lQ/s640/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard1.jpg" width="593" /></a></div><br />'<a href="http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/2010/04/back-to-reality.html">Real Stuff' like gears, planes, and fire trucks</a> were once common on the playground, but have regrettably fallen into disuse. However, there is no more complete example of a 'Real Stuff' playscape than the quite recent Geopark in Stavanger Norway by <a href="http://www.hha.no/about">Helen and Hard</a>. <br /><br /><i>"Utilising a vacant forecourt adjacent to the Oil Museum as the site for the new park, we drew from three different local resources in the design process: first, the geological and seismic expertise of the oil industry, second, technology and materials (including waste) related to the production of oil, and third, the ideas of local youth groups for the programming of the new park."</i><br /><div><br />The layout of the park is based upon the geologic layers of the Troll field, Norway's most valuable oil and gas reservoir, making visible at 1:500 scale the geologic strata hidden 2000 – 3000 metres below the seabed. The topography of the park is based on the geological layers, the “strata”, of the Troll field, reconstructed in a scale of 1:500, with layers partially peeled away to create the park's slopes. The strata are cleverly delineated by the different colors of the surfacing in the park with black representing the oil basin. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY00swKoUEw8-hsZnG4vAgw1zIbNlob9FjUL7jOc0brDRDg5DUivQ9wmpj73U-oJDCQ8uvFJonIjwip-mzZG72MlcQJ19w7eyyvvjY2xYH7-S63ufBwE1CzdK1zuYnyc8pkym3Wy0tGVc/s1600/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY00swKoUEw8-hsZnG4vAgw1zIbNlob9FjUL7jOc0brDRDg5DUivQ9wmpj73U-oJDCQ8uvFJonIjwip-mzZG72MlcQJ19w7eyyvvjY2xYH7-S63ufBwE1CzdK1zuYnyc8pkym3Wy0tGVc/s640/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard9.jpg" width="523" /></a></div><br /><br />Workshops conducted with youth groups defined the functions of each sedimentary layer: biking, climbing, exhibition, concerts, jumping, ball play and chilling-out. The oil basin became a skating park complete with drilling wells, and geologic folds were expressed as graffiti-allowed walls.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwy0fTZTlrycOWNzpQ2L4G6M02pXTsNiV6g2Fn9nIaoBGEBkkh00gW7g5RdCvoq-EFzfP4v5SLjv_7N7FYmWM7IANKINTkfPhAQHKFKt0ABAYvln8LW9bzPEkNJAix8cZ4hehev8wF5xI/s1600/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwy0fTZTlrycOWNzpQ2L4G6M02pXTsNiV6g2Fn9nIaoBGEBkkh00gW7g5RdCvoq-EFzfP4v5SLjv_7N7FYmWM7IANKINTkfPhAQHKFKt0ABAYvln8LW9bzPEkNJAix8cZ4hehev8wF5xI/s640/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnmloWgGiIZuJnfxlXXkofwAeC03E0crEdj61xXgmU1C9V7Kx-TxwtkIOQr2Rd20JqrG07cRT11AV-GJS9nXkUQP2gr-Qi2LWieuhbHHrop7SG8WMfLBT3AluLYjIiHFDYOywrJZiS1U/s1600/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnmloWgGiIZuJnfxlXXkofwAeC03E0crEdj61xXgmU1C9V7Kx-TxwtkIOQr2Rd20JqrG07cRT11AV-GJS9nXkUQP2gr-Qi2LWieuhbHHrop7SG8WMfLBT3AluLYjIiHFDYOywrJZiS1U/s640/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvfPmNaGKnsSoiAdYRx_B95GLqHRVFnCFEtWqJewZ2nkS1IYL29z5YeMMrp6kYkDPNZAxi1nR3_QMQ0F4L0BQw2LUioGN2W9KRCJzI5y_qBPoA1fVHUadQKPUfVVSf-EA0gFjpKNHh9E/s1600/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvfPmNaGKnsSoiAdYRx_B95GLqHRVFnCFEtWqJewZ2nkS1IYL29z5YeMMrp6kYkDPNZAxi1nR3_QMQ0F4L0BQw2LUioGN2W9KRCJzI5y_qBPoA1fVHUadQKPUfVVSf-EA0gFjpKNHh9E/s640/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The final phase of the park was to create its surfaces and features using recycled and reshaped elements from petroleum installations, the abandoned Frigg oil platform, offshore bases, equipment suppliers and scrap heaps.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJarUFVfuLvCQ868aMzoLebknaHq_yUBZ5rkOOg6EB0H_oio20BRwp36SSOuOcF5ehaAZe7us-tIRRxYCLc49tuoGRAwI5359kwvNUXqBA6f2wnP3QwKYArHQq9g43vELMPFGu2QIqhU/s1600/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvvL15YkyfuahgQ-2uvBgDDg-E8xpG0C1Ruoxnp_0g97V1iuiVJWl6SpwV-5NHPN5lthGbnedeM3k1QgrwTCL6oddp0WyqyBjfTMOE67nTVoQo_lH5j_SXWxS9n5NuqYgQb-6iOZdLiQ/s1600/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvvL15YkyfuahgQ-2uvBgDDg-E8xpG0C1Ruoxnp_0g97V1iuiVJWl6SpwV-5NHPN5lthGbnedeM3k1QgrwTCL6oddp0WyqyBjfTMOE67nTVoQo_lH5j_SXWxS9n5NuqYgQb-6iOZdLiQ/s640/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLWzezxxyvSEOrfLioOfKcjLJc3YzpWvWKFAtPf8H1U0e6mOWnmp0AflrbwkgfdHKxSOHq_lcDDxe_1eJC36O2yGojxo9V7zfpUA0BnT2AHFZnMYHMFVxDe3YScD24ddeg8_QyDWfqO0/s1600/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLWzezxxyvSEOrfLioOfKcjLJc3YzpWvWKFAtPf8H1U0e6mOWnmp0AflrbwkgfdHKxSOHq_lcDDxe_1eJC36O2yGojxo9V7zfpUA0BnT2AHFZnMYHMFVxDe3YScD24ddeg8_QyDWfqO0/s640/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCM7PHPJ8OAoEc1A_hh_kCMuPbfJMZdZzSIZTTFZZ2Y6LMhBIJbGMJM7agIeRPLh28Ei5R_R9cgoHtnsjVgyso-3Z07XbK0BlQmNT8r_GNyRAjNCIh8egCx5zEPEpVN7fREFfQzWPLIU/s1600/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCM7PHPJ8OAoEc1A_hh_kCMuPbfJMZdZzSIZTTFZZ2Y6LMhBIJbGMJM7agIeRPLh28Ei5R_R9cgoHtnsjVgyso-3Z07XbK0BlQmNT8r_GNyRAjNCIh8egCx5zEPEpVN7fREFfQzWPLIU/s640/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard7.jpg" width="433" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ai_zSAK8nIEfvPUnkq5xgQxjQLGtFjhdDRedlYXFe1_fEjY4aTYqbHpDBwXgl0ZVWIn3OfjeW5wxl247tEqgPl2P4cR8aYNUvDA23ceBSx8WgRmJfuYDS-A0U91MoAxupK7cTb9IZJA/s1600/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ai_zSAK8nIEfvPUnkq5xgQxjQLGtFjhdDRedlYXFe1_fEjY4aTYqbHpDBwXgl0ZVWIn3OfjeW5wxl247tEqgPl2P4cR8aYNUvDA23ceBSx8WgRmJfuYDS-A0U91MoAxupK7cTb9IZJA/s640/stavanger+norway+oilfield+playground+helen+and+hard11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The Geopark has turned a formerly abandoned site into an active social space, and is so popular that its originally planned year-long presence has turned into an ongoing (and hopefully permanent!) one...truly an amazing space made of 'real stuff'. <br /><br />[All photos via Helen and Hard. Submitted by Norwegian reader Magnus last fall...thanks Magnus! For those of you who submit please remember that I love hearing from you but it can take a while for things to appear on the blog!]Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0Stavanger, Norway58.9699756 5.733107358.9044941 5.5751788000000007 59.035457099999995 5.8910358tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-32342410251963002942012-06-05T09:30:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.820-07:00Interactive Pavements for Interactive Playgrounds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZwwyFj1Q4GEMV5-IyMWrzJ_edg4Bit3a9FXvvsHDlMomwu1FHAHGERW1teit6fnQ_sCx7AldGeffoP3Lkid1huNE8PDNIfc_GcWAwLK1WXi0wp_A3RswGSzbk5tmuhdQNVZl7GE8sq0/s1600/ipavement1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZwwyFj1Q4GEMV5-IyMWrzJ_edg4Bit3a9FXvvsHDlMomwu1FHAHGERW1teit6fnQ_sCx7AldGeffoP3Lkid1huNE8PDNIfc_GcWAwLK1WXi0wp_A3RswGSzbk5tmuhdQNVZl7GE8sq0/s400/ipavement1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwjR0_bjr_VHBpaQ1eFZTczKr2x18AvMltgwPwqv_26Zz4F_aulLU04bC0h3m770OOB9n8zUIsJBWjKy0EJJG7U-0AK_TOTfk51PyQAP6AY-zyrfDyTD_y1DVTt2cpgOax0EhjOCyB4g/s1600/ipavement2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwjR0_bjr_VHBpaQ1eFZTczKr2x18AvMltgwPwqv_26Zz4F_aulLU04bC0h3m770OOB9n8zUIsJBWjKy0EJJG7U-0AK_TOTfk51PyQAP6AY-zyrfDyTD_y1DVTt2cpgOax0EhjOCyB4g/s400/ipavement2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />As playgrounds like other architectural constructs move toward embedded interactivity, things like the <a href="http://www.ipavement.com/en/index_eng.html">ipavement</a> will host the next generation of playground games. The goal of its founders is to turn <span id="goog_1985784772"></span><a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57420548-1/ipavement-adds-apps-to-the-ground-beneath-your-feet/">city streets into information platforms<span id="goog_1985784773"></span></a>; and they sport Bluetooth and Wi-Fi along with their own operating system, apps, and sensors. <br /><br />"<i>Each stone measures 40 x 40 x 7 centimeters (15.75 x 15.75 x 2.76 in), weighs approximately 24 kilograms (53 lbs), and contains a 5 GB microprocessor that communicates with nearby mobile devices via WiFi and Bluetooth. Power and internet access are supplied to each stone via a hard-wired 1,000-watt cable." [<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/ipavement-wifi-paving-stones/22325/">gizmag</a>]</i><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkmWfn2gcBSpZGvQCD0WPtPUw6Etoi22IPwcU-8TY5es3ntSS4mJiUEUy1TaXfoTmNx3gx1RX_mei2sCywvDm8y0D0a8UU_s5qWCXRjVjETJ-3iq2TJreohZ_2H6w4v_IpHiI8qYQGs8/s1600/electricity+generating+tiles+pavegen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkmWfn2gcBSpZGvQCD0WPtPUw6Etoi22IPwcU-8TY5es3ntSS4mJiUEUy1TaXfoTmNx3gx1RX_mei2sCywvDm8y0D0a8UU_s5qWCXRjVjETJ-3iq2TJreohZ_2H6w4v_IpHiI8qYQGs8/s400/electricity+generating+tiles+pavegen1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image from pavegen</td></tr></tbody></table>which is cool but it seems obvious to try to combine the idea with that of the <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/05/120518-floor-tiles-turn-footfalls-to-electricity/">electricity generating tiles</a> like those from <a href="http://www.pavegen.com/">pavegen</a> rather than using a hard-wired cable.<br /><br />And in fact the company <span id="goog_660976468"></span><a href="http://powerleap.net/?page_id=27#more-27">Powerleap<span id="goog_660976469"></span></a> is currently developing just that, a tile that uses footfall energy to power embedded wireless transmitters. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7KF06hYVm3EvAaUR7xBwcQrHOS7Q6VdtyZCRyxyrECzRk7busEY5jTUxgIdOdEDRWMHaXxVOSkQuUb3tWOtTXFKkozAEFs4FNMongiZSnwfPa1z8ka92Mjrx7NyZ1R4iWMXnZsXykm0/s1600/smartfloor+by+powerleap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7KF06hYVm3EvAaUR7xBwcQrHOS7Q6VdtyZCRyxyrECzRk7busEY5jTUxgIdOdEDRWMHaXxVOSkQuUb3tWOtTXFKkozAEFs4FNMongiZSnwfPa1z8ka92Mjrx7NyZ1R4iWMXnZsXykm0/s400/smartfloor+by+powerleap.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image from powerleap</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />These technologies are especially interesting for the playground because the power in a playground 'footfall', say at the bottom of a slide, is much greater than that of a mall-strolling 'footfall'' more like say, the heavy footfalls used to generate energy by <a href="http://www.sustainabledanceclub.com/about">sustainabledanceclub</a>. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt64B0Z8b_V1v5Qc_GPbZk-x4pKwIKbVYWtJ5Pewgg6xbQgemCn-Nmz8WeW8xJgdPFypdwca6WdlmZIorE5s2mCtlxYdIYD2_JwrAEWDK9CM_EiciSy3no8x2a3xoHnxCDYjGiLAfha_s/s1600/sustainable+dance+club+energy+generating+tiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt64B0Z8b_V1v5Qc_GPbZk-x4pKwIKbVYWtJ5Pewgg6xbQgemCn-Nmz8WeW8xJgdPFypdwca6WdlmZIorE5s2mCtlxYdIYD2_JwrAEWDK9CM_EiciSy3no8x2a3xoHnxCDYjGiLAfha_s/s400/sustainable+dance+club+energy+generating+tiles.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image from sustainabledanceclub</td></tr></tbody></table>I've felt a little uncomfortable with the <a href="http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/2008/05/empower-playgrounds.html">playground devices that harvest the motion of a child on a teeter-totter or swing to produce electrical or mechanical power</a>...since they are often advocated for impoverished areas I worry (no evidence of this, just wondering) whether their use could become coercive in some way. What if a child had to keep swinging to ensure his family's water supply?<br /><br /> So I like the idea of footfalls (a less controllable event) powering interactivity (a less imperative event) on the playground. Interested in your thoughts. <br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-58462185436943598672012-06-02T10:55:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.820-07:00Benches from Found Materials by Bankinzicht<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1_QnAcXTgRXz5Y5KX7VQ0Jdr0E6z2ULvfNjrcxsguNNqKLBJ0yWY74pYcXDBG7ifbYEf70p1tWRdGpbgYOWWhS5oXp_JFZglHWdot4vfARjWn7HixPwjR2O9RaD0CqLqhcUdR1ZYjIg/s1600/bankinzicht+playground+benches3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1_QnAcXTgRXz5Y5KX7VQ0Jdr0E6z2ULvfNjrcxsguNNqKLBJ0yWY74pYcXDBG7ifbYEf70p1tWRdGpbgYOWWhS5oXp_JFZglHWdot4vfARjWn7HixPwjR2O9RaD0CqLqhcUdR1ZYjIg/s400/bankinzicht+playground+benches3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />When you're designing your playscape, don't neglect the hardscape that can make the space feel comfortable, permanent, and settled into its site. Always question whether a fence is truly necessary (often it isn't), or whether another way of providing 'boundary' is more useful and more functional as well...one way of handling the perimeter of your site is to make it a bench. <br /><br />I really like the constructions of <a href="http://www.bankinzicht.nl/">'Bankinzicht'</a> from the Netherlands (their site is in Dutch, see an <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bankinzicht.nl%2F">English translation via google translate</a>) by two gardeners who make, among other things, 'natural nurseries' and have a particular predilection for constructing benches from discarded building rubble.<br /><br /><div style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"The seats are for the most part made with materials that were released during the construction of a garden. The foundation usually consists of several layers of gravel tiles. Subsequent layers are stacked in a mosaic structure and supplemented with specific details of pottery, glass, or "found objects". In the pile and brickwork much room is left for planting. Kenilworth Ivy, Thyme and Yellow Corydalis species are fun and add color and scent. It is also possible to integrate the bench with a pool of water or a wooden seat."</span></i></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirL8_Lh0J96niDftPkduCz_G6QXYK0aGCWe1PHtpI9ikYx6tewFcSIJj4sgcLQxvEwFQvCz7sln2luifHCNv-4rf_OC__GStimpPT6Pax74WgH2LW5zeBFK7wG2JnnQBKE7vOxhoQj_ME/s1600/bankinzicht+playground+benches2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirL8_Lh0J96niDftPkduCz_G6QXYK0aGCWe1PHtpI9ikYx6tewFcSIJj4sgcLQxvEwFQvCz7sln2luifHCNv-4rf_OC__GStimpPT6Pax74WgH2LW5zeBFK7wG2JnnQBKE7vOxhoQj_ME/s400/bankinzicht+playground+benches2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkeW3skn-JgGUkUkXz4hrIUjhuRqZgHI9mczUWe17Ijt2gMS9pH2xRYXmUN7vW2VH-wpufonDpAeStE2aZILS5gauwi0XwJnQ8H0dqZ3CVfheKBDsufR2hgFJW5aehuoKpThgF34BSgQ/s1600/bankinzicht+playground+benches4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMkeW3skn-JgGUkUkXz4hrIUjhuRqZgHI9mczUWe17Ijt2gMS9pH2xRYXmUN7vW2VH-wpufonDpAeStE2aZILS5gauwi0XwJnQ8H0dqZ3CVfheKBDsufR2hgFJW5aehuoKpThgF34BSgQ/s400/bankinzicht+playground+benches4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVchQ8Gl5eOENkGaGwLhJzNELwwPR873fgAC_AHkN1fMEVpqysZgehZfS_uyZV3X60GdA4WA3mbCQlJzEvUiZA54JAILedh_f5N1XyrKunTYgQNpBOk3ZuqJ9ggRV1RNW2DsJo73beRbA/s1600/bankinzicht+playground+benches6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVchQ8Gl5eOENkGaGwLhJzNELwwPR873fgAC_AHkN1fMEVpqysZgehZfS_uyZV3X60GdA4WA3mbCQlJzEvUiZA54JAILedh_f5N1XyrKunTYgQNpBOk3ZuqJ9ggRV1RNW2DsJo73beRbA/s400/bankinzicht+playground+benches6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love the way their benches incorporate things like marbles and old pieces of pottery and have plenty of niches for hiding treasures or parking a toy car. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaf-VfNyIIoInBKhiSYZIQlm3sUHeWXqLfg5sqQoPS4f-XIiNh7DNENQ43NisurSemaWF-dKgzAYWsdX2QoiWxLDTuYQT9C70NjveMoYQH2UN4v1xViU38CVXa67VJCfKpe1gq3slCBaM/s1600/bankinzicht+playground+benches7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaf-VfNyIIoInBKhiSYZIQlm3sUHeWXqLfg5sqQoPS4f-XIiNh7DNENQ43NisurSemaWF-dKgzAYWsdX2QoiWxLDTuYQT9C70NjveMoYQH2UN4v1xViU38CVXa67VJCfKpe1gq3slCBaM/s400/bankinzicht+playground+benches7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdE6UgwMGDSx7Wrg6G9u9JtyPyYEf9Cw2ytonasu8zyVQ8aGHSOywB7yrzy-tGXdkt2-zFB4UmP25gbGEj4i6w6mkBJXxDyECKtLesVYcGg9CzSFXiMNk6nweOOwM2GxvoARFsshcQMM/s1600/bankinzicht+playground+benches5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdE6UgwMGDSx7Wrg6G9u9JtyPyYEf9Cw2ytonasu8zyVQ8aGHSOywB7yrzy-tGXdkt2-zFB4UmP25gbGEj4i6w6mkBJXxDyECKtLesVYcGg9CzSFXiMNk6nweOOwM2GxvoARFsshcQMM/s400/bankinzicht+playground+benches5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And note how the circular patterns of the benches at one of their 'natural nurseries' provide for the 'retreat spaces' previously discussed on the blog as a <a href="http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/2011/11/playgrounds-designed-with-bullies-in.html">design feature to prevent playground bullying</a>. Hooray for Bankinzicht!</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5vJW2bFi_UAy5k4iaDPXhYfwHrQ8jLQESkCVG632LW4AxeWoYbeeC4iqYxkLe0zNPhuSmeQSU_oAiaM9fqeRzb1IOHKBAye33L4okT6-rNnI0i0ZQLOXjCd5-uXZQd5IDi6Mk7qkjfc/s1600/bankinzicht+playground+benches1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5vJW2bFi_UAy5k4iaDPXhYfwHrQ8jLQESkCVG632LW4AxeWoYbeeC4iqYxkLe0zNPhuSmeQSU_oAiaM9fqeRzb1IOHKBAye33L4okT6-rNnI0i0ZQLOXjCd5-uXZQd5IDi6Mk7qkjfc/s400/bankinzicht+playground+benches1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNP4MDuw4rYvW0zi3Va2EijqNWp0QdpUFTabFpTU3vkj-vhrG-nX8py03T4UpvN3dMhUrSggU92FfMo5lEieppE5piTtzU913yASnHAx_z4N5Hjx8WTx1JwnSqwXaewt0eebqLXbhRA4/s1600/playground+designs+to+prevent+bullying1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNP4MDuw4rYvW0zi3Va2EijqNWp0QdpUFTabFpTU3vkj-vhrG-nX8py03T4UpvN3dMhUrSggU92FfMo5lEieppE5piTtzU913yASnHAx_z4N5Hjx8WTx1JwnSqwXaewt0eebqLXbhRA4/s400/playground+designs+to+prevent+bullying1.png" width="295" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-6091589499473742202012-06-01T21:15:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.820-07:00Kids Yoga in Schools: The Results?<br /><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">School can be a busy, stressful place for kids. Academic demands placed upon young kids seem to keep growing. Schools across the country are trying to help students succeed by taking out many extra-curricular activities and arts classes so there is more time to focus on core subjects, like math, reading, and science. While this strategy may be beneficial for school ratings and test scores, it might not be the best for kids. Some schools are trying Yoga in the classroom as a way to teach children how to relax, focus, and re-energize throughout the day. The results are positive.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Attitude</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2a2VL3-xzg1aXkeWsPJwKWZHufhlUL5vkFoZ_Xm72ka6Ofb5vjpP1WStSv-M-Z0APgoPx7dCTyKKoXqdC-cGT6a6JHxd_FZCiNV-FAUonIdbrKdepgE35WN4r8JRRrSwliHIS_c2XU9gN/s1600/yoga_kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2a2VL3-xzg1aXkeWsPJwKWZHufhlUL5vkFoZ_Xm72ka6Ofb5vjpP1WStSv-M-Z0APgoPx7dCTyKKoXqdC-cGT6a6JHxd_FZCiNV-FAUonIdbrKdepgE35WN4r8JRRrSwliHIS_c2XU9gN/s320/yoga_kids.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Students who are fortunate enough to practice Yoga during the school day have an overall better attitude. Studies have shown improvements in attitudes towards school and life in general. Many children and adolescents might feel moody or agitated throughout the day without recognizing the source of the negative energy. Yoga teaches students that they don't have to carry all that stress around with them. Students learn specific ways to recognize and release stress and anxiety, resulting in a more positive attitude. Yoga helps by diverting the mind and body for a few moments, allowing students to focus on the breath or the body for a short time.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Grades</strong></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Yoga in schools also results in an overall improvement in the grades of students. Yoga gives students meaningful breaks during the day that re-focus and re-energize the mind. Breathing is a most powerful tool used by students and teachers to quickly gain more focus and energy. Everyone breathes, but Yoga teaches us to do it mindfully, deeply, and with purpose. When students learn this simple concept, it can produce startling results. Teachers can guide students in refocusing activities before a test, after sitting for a long period, or when students are feeling restless.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAasHM-h1WFkfc_C609GdnRC9xfQrK4vj0UnAx8LGOEaDIJ_E4CNkueGIsUXYXa7I4PqEeTAwoolyRb2GmDtNCGHizMLP9rDZFgPs-x8GOypWcT9u3RKgM8qYtu3OSZEQWMv69ih0kBwtx/s1600/Yoga_Kids.151162954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAasHM-h1WFkfc_C609GdnRC9xfQrK4vj0UnAx8LGOEaDIJ_E4CNkueGIsUXYXa7I4PqEeTAwoolyRb2GmDtNCGHizMLP9rDZFgPs-x8GOypWcT9u3RKgM8qYtu3OSZEQWMv69ih0kBwtx/s320/Yoga_Kids.151162954.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Health</strong></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">The health benefits of Yoga are seemingly endless. Students who participate in Yoga gain strength, agility, and flexibility, which can lead to weight loss and muscle gain. Yoga helps reduce symptoms of a number of common ailments that are often caused by stress, including headaches, digestive issues, and depression. More and more kids are being diagnosed with a variety of attention deficit disorders. Yoga can help reduce the symptoms of these types of disorders by giving students the necessary coping tools. Studies show an overall improvement in the health of students who practice Yoga on a regular basis.</div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-5508773683738589"; /* KIDS728bott */ google_ad_slot = "0806540600"; google_ad_width = 728; google_ad_height = 90; //--></script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><br /><br />Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7000010</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-23523445611588663072012-05-23T08:58:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.821-07:00Playground Den-Building and Kids Play DIY<br /><i>Playscapes</i> friend <a href="http://rethinkingchildhood.com/2012/05/23/school-build-dens/#more-1843">Tim Gill has just posted about the den-building provisions on the playground</a> of Berwick Fields Primary school in <strike>England </strike>(Australia, oops!) which you'll want to read. Kids have always built playhouses out of whatever materials they can find around, of course. But a key to encouraging this behavior, whether in a multi-user playspace or in your own backyard, is to provide a simple pole or a frame to help the constructions stand up.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2bra967wlbJWZjC2dPt1PJU6Fm4Q2nwVsu9x72iHsxmIcrd11HuVMdOg5lemtCTNI6NJFmPH9dIVAE3fID072npw30jcKCuyPrlk5k78Cq0XGK36bcHHT1GnheeBEhR3spFIW52Wmcs/s1600/playground+den+building+kids+play+diy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2bra967wlbJWZjC2dPt1PJU6Fm4Q2nwVsu9x72iHsxmIcrd11HuVMdOg5lemtCTNI6NJFmPH9dIVAE3fID072npw30jcKCuyPrlk5k78Cq0XGK36bcHHT1GnheeBEhR3spFIW52Wmcs/s400/playground+den+building+kids+play+diy1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Den-building poles at Berwick are decorated by each year's class. Photo by Tim Gill</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHIWM8HJY0wH85wGU4o2Pg_mmydGW45K85WJzaTNTWgt42kWPb6eeGjbCq7-eIUtTzE7a3_AZ9AlgqSSaR76KkNuzPuH1-UTyLqjIAiVbuVWkuQzBHkVhWUEbSvLGBnSaVNbOq7nGRAU/s1600/thurton+primary+school+playground+den+building+kids+diy1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHIWM8HJY0wH85wGU4o2Pg_mmydGW45K85WJzaTNTWgt42kWPb6eeGjbCq7-eIUtTzE7a3_AZ9AlgqSSaR76KkNuzPuH1-UTyLqjIAiVbuVWkuQzBHkVhWUEbSvLGBnSaVNbOq7nGRAU/s400/thurton+primary+school+playground+den+building+kids+diy1.png" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/2012/01/thurton-primary-school-playground-by.html">Thurton Primary School</a> provides simple frames to enable den-building. Photo by Natasha Lyster</td></tr></tbody></table>Den poles and frames are a simple addition to any play space; then just let the children gather their own sticks and branches and build away.<br /><br />Note that Tim's post also gives some insight into the management of dens on a school playground: <i> "the only rule is that dens have to be demolished at the end of each session. This is to allow more children to take part. Before the rule was introduced, children were starting to get territorial about their cubbies."</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsxJrTdQYG5NZJ9bNSjq0RYT9DHQ9eF-Ry4L3h2354H2NGucJY_SzCedl4AWl2njrskwUO8_W2Jj29aLPs8qpdQoMlqCHxXHzak32x-jpft8eTE6yjc8e1Htllz1M6Tvkh-APZIxPDqY/s1600/kids+play+diy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsxJrTdQYG5NZJ9bNSjq0RYT9DHQ9eF-Ry4L3h2354H2NGucJY_SzCedl4AWl2njrskwUO8_W2Jj29aLPs8qpdQoMlqCHxXHzak32x-jpft8eTE6yjc8e1Htllz1M6Tvkh-APZIxPDqY/s640/kids+play+diy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Unlike the more permanent constructs allowed at adventure playgrounds, play dens typically don't last long. So they're ideal for documenting at <a href="https://diy.org/">diy.org, </a>a beautiful new site and app well-summarized as an <a href="http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/04/diy-org-for-kids-artwork/">'online refrigerator for kids artwork'</a>, (see also a <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57423522-93/a-fathers-lament-the-real-world-is-not-a-game/">discussion of the diy project at c/net</a>). Several play projects have already been posted...I really like the idea of kids being able to document their ephemeral, outdoor play creations in this way!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpH2v0DybAfsOs5lYhHA2FOe5Ki4raDwFb5g6O-zvVF9M8eil_Kiz8U8zfKe9ZsFG4ODseT5g25tO_fknaOWyYrajilI8juk_vgnJT3dhEM997s5nz0kUc-sADuGEAmvvLSN7DIQBVs8/s1600/kids+play+diy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpH2v0DybAfsOs5lYhHA2FOe5Ki4raDwFb5g6O-zvVF9M8eil_Kiz8U8zfKe9ZsFG4ODseT5g25tO_fknaOWyYrajilI8juk_vgnJT3dhEM997s5nz0kUc-sADuGEAmvvLSN7DIQBVs8/s400/kids+play+diy1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="paragraph_style_4"><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-23592017223521479902012-05-18T07:30:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.821-07:004 Reasons Kids Bicycles Are Better Than A Game Console<div id="article-content" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0bSCZLeXiEY3c4EfTrc7VNwJSOfAtZCyXWhmDvvG1peLQUw4GX7XfXlsUKQ2_0eyLwZDokahZQRtGtq7_VaQKLvkt3Kshj8-vbayAgs9ulgBGITxTpuUash9lOLgKOp-4ngLGeWfKPfc/s1600/cheap-Kids-Bikes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0bSCZLeXiEY3c4EfTrc7VNwJSOfAtZCyXWhmDvvG1peLQUw4GX7XfXlsUKQ2_0eyLwZDokahZQRtGtq7_VaQKLvkt3Kshj8-vbayAgs9ulgBGITxTpuUash9lOLgKOp-4ngLGeWfKPfc/s320/cheap-Kids-Bikes.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">As modern technology is becoming more and more popular with children, kids bicycles almost seem to have been forgotten. This is one of the leading causes for obesity. Children are simply spending too much time indoors and not enough time outdoors. The next time your kids start nagging you for a game console, remind them why kids bicycles are so much better.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><b>Exercise</b>: You need to explain to your children from a young age that exercise is important. They need to understand that they have to work on their health and on their body. One of the main reasons that so many children are over weight these days is simply because they have stopped going outside to play. Once your child understand the important of exercise, they might be more willing to take part in it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubtycXeDYPc8uAvAUX9ytPLOhvqHTYqr8i6ifFoS5s31-yg-KampXmQJqS2Z5kQFs_U1iiR6qUWEueEkaO-w4ihhS9fJaCUNoXcsgUXE3OgJuMLQvI8Mgy-n2hDO06d9haKmqs9YaARiU/s1600/kids_on_diamondback_bicycles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubtycXeDYPc8uAvAUX9ytPLOhvqHTYqr8i6ifFoS5s31-yg-KampXmQJqS2Z5kQFs_U1iiR6qUWEueEkaO-w4ihhS9fJaCUNoXcsgUXE3OgJuMLQvI8Mgy-n2hDO06d9haKmqs9YaARiU/s320/kids_on_diamondback_bicycles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><b>Adventure</b>: You sometimes need to pretty up a concept to children. Using adventure is one of them. Tell your child that with kids bicycles you can have marvelous adventures. Make the concept of going outside with the kids bicycles as appealing as possible.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><b>Friends</b>: A lot of children are spending time in front of their computers and game consoles playing games by themselves. Explain to your children that by using kids bicycles they will be able to have a lot of friends to play with. Kids love to get together on their bicycles and explore the neighbourhood. Later on when your child starts cycling, you can organize cycle groups with parents and children. This is a fantastic way to get children to interact in a healthy, active environment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwz4vTgfSobYKpQjWxjisU9WCrZpzThP686Uf3xy8CJ-pZbD9jsd7q8nPrExs5IQ8ZnYSTrst0aQdQ8eXc8jpeNS6VKryrAY2YxbaohANwEfVuBIro-I0ENbN7qzuHGaazAkwg6YLEOXvG/s1600/lens13365891_1284347862Top_10_Kids_Bikes_-_Boy_R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwz4vTgfSobYKpQjWxjisU9WCrZpzThP686Uf3xy8CJ-pZbD9jsd7q8nPrExs5IQ8ZnYSTrst0aQdQ8eXc8jpeNS6VKryrAY2YxbaohANwEfVuBIro-I0ENbN7qzuHGaazAkwg6YLEOXvG/s1600/lens13365891_1284347862Top_10_Kids_Bikes_-_Boy_R.jpg" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;"><b>Confidence</b>: It is critical to explain to their child how much confidence they will get from cycling on kids bicycles. Once they learn how to ride and enjoy themselves on a kids bike, they'll like the concept a lot more. Some children don't want to ride bikes because they think they'll fall or hurt themselves.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">It is critical as parents that we try to instill the best possible habits in our children. You can do this in a fun, encouraging way by pointing out all the positives of exercise and cycling. Once your child sees your enthusiasm for a specific subject, they will also want to get interested.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Use these four reasons to help your child make the right choice and choose kids bicycles over a gaming console. Adventure, friends, confidence and exercise are fantastic reasons for cycling.</div></div><div id="article-resource" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px;">Melanie Thomas (CEO Melrose Kids Ltd) is a mother of two boys and lives in London, England. Melrose Kids Ltd is the official distributor of Strider Sports products including the Strider PreBike in the UK and Ireland.</div></div><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-5508773683738589"; /* KIDS336 */ google_ad_slot = "4097838048"; google_ad_width = 336; google_ad_height = 280; //--></script><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><br /><br />Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6078387</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-7755784880648478412012-05-11T13:24:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.821-07:00Backyard Sandbox, 1922, Frances Benjamin Johnston<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjYA-k0-38mpmOc3uXQL67mesKZ9qGqi7edHpcMDMPzn25jCZjwYCUVyIPbP3_aTxnX05cObktdDUURa7dkHOPojRHfoZPtEYmDGcHgGeIkOIVfsYTBU0ZoWctO3daHjmDxbonXB5xBY/s1600/Frances+benjamin+johnston+playground+history+backyard+sandbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjYA-k0-38mpmOc3uXQL67mesKZ9qGqi7edHpcMDMPzn25jCZjwYCUVyIPbP3_aTxnX05cObktdDUURa7dkHOPojRHfoZPtEYmDGcHgGeIkOIVfsYTBU0ZoWctO3daHjmDxbonXB5xBY/s400/Frances+benjamin+johnston+playground+history+backyard+sandbox.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Henry Alexander Murray, Jr., house, 129 East 69th Street, New York, New York.<br /> From the Frances Benjamin Johnston collection at the <a href="http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/fbj/item/2008675963/resource/">Library of Congress</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Longtime <i>Playscapes</i> readers know that <a href="http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/2009/11/brief-history-of-sandbox.html">the playground began with the sandbox</a>. This historic example (1922) of a backyard sandpit is from the photography of Frances Benjamin Johnston in the stunning new book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0926494155/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=playscapes-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0926494155">Gardens for a Beautiful America, 1895-1935. </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=playscapes-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0926494155" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i>By Sam Watters in collaboration with the <a href="http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/coll/fbjlanterns.html">Library of Congress</a>, published by <a href="http://www.acanthuspress.com/ps-70-4-gardens-for-a-beautiful-america.aspx">Acanthus Press</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-24202179925775227702012-05-10T10:29:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.821-07:00Cave Playground Tunnels by Entre Prises<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivB4ioOO8IwenVp9SG0VNEfTTmERRyeDMvUZAylJysCB0BFNXr-3UQb2hnDAkNwN9OKg8u_8fwv226MjAZFu5ki9aUTFfFkve40Zkrrpf41BROGh97fT3n2mWTobHIlMztayU6lMs9U-w/s1600/artificial+cave+playground+tunnel+entre+prises1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivB4ioOO8IwenVp9SG0VNEfTTmERRyeDMvUZAylJysCB0BFNXr-3UQb2hnDAkNwN9OKg8u_8fwv226MjAZFu5ki9aUTFfFkve40Zkrrpf41BROGh97fT3n2mWTobHIlMztayU6lMs9U-w/s400/artificial+cave+playground+tunnel+entre+prises1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>For those of you that thought the <a href="http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/2012/04/krabbelknoten-mathematical-play.html">Krabbelknoten</a> was a bit claustrophobic, take a look at the spelunking simulators designed by the firm <a href="http://www.ep-uk.com/artificial/caves/britishcaving">Entre Prises </a>in conjunction with the <a href="http://british-caving.org.uk/?page=162">British Caving Association (</a>an interesting play design overlap, there!). <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcRpLu1nRv8i7MTo0vgtXNERvLztoxwRY9HD5N9giEzUDtXPlx0zpvc462vDAE6MQtSPMUbIBl5KByE3_2ss9iav0nAJTObEfUf1TwXxiEEsfR_LaYILbgU0cKFOkZ3F-ArGJDQkZOfQ/s1600/artificial+cave+playground+tunnel+british+caving+association+entre+prises.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcRpLu1nRv8i7MTo0vgtXNERvLztoxwRY9HD5N9giEzUDtXPlx0zpvc462vDAE6MQtSPMUbIBl5KByE3_2ss9iav0nAJTObEfUf1TwXxiEEsfR_LaYILbgU0cKFOkZ3F-ArGJDQkZOfQ/s400/artificial+cave+playground+tunnel+british+caving+association+entre+prises.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by David Cooke</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Their <a href="http://www.ep-uk.com/artificial/caves/speleosystem">Speleo System </a>replicates natural cave features in modular sections that can be interchanged and even rotated to provide a variety of challenges, with the goal of introducing people to the sport of caving and preparing them for below-ground exploration. <br /><br />They provide the 'Linear', the 'Arch', the 'Chamber', and of course, the 'Squeeze'! As well as make full artificial caves and enormous climbing walls for cruise-ships and casinos; those adult reincarnations of the playground. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvm9qAFzRDAMoZGLQ4eJqFjnSYLDkUtYPx6qb4no6efiqagqvBTX-LLkzbFjA47CsLl__dDFb-6546f-JqJMY94C9n2UZhMXJveQBHhhxQlbk2uQTwyhspnXLsrFvEX59MT5TyjFBONY/s1600/artificial+cave+playground+tunnel+entre+prises2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvm9qAFzRDAMoZGLQ4eJqFjnSYLDkUtYPx6qb4no6efiqagqvBTX-LLkzbFjA47CsLl__dDFb-6546f-JqJMY94C9n2UZhMXJveQBHhhxQlbk2uQTwyhspnXLsrFvEX59MT5TyjFBONY/s400/artificial+cave+playground+tunnel+entre+prises2.jpg" width="327" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_UFJGD75pi0ttuQAtKYAZA2oIXZJP_4tTKfPdMl8dpo39ObD5jo8mboHvyHJ4g3uqoUuiZy5kysJ-bLixwa0RMKQ3Bf8xwrJ0uc_g9381mRPwS9o92z9bPyZ6Nr3su1admOJ4scaRso/s1600/artificial+cave+playground+tunnel+entre+prises3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_UFJGD75pi0ttuQAtKYAZA2oIXZJP_4tTKfPdMl8dpo39ObD5jo8mboHvyHJ4g3uqoUuiZy5kysJ-bLixwa0RMKQ3Bf8xwrJ0uc_g9381mRPwS9o92z9bPyZ6Nr3su1admOJ4scaRso/s400/artificial+cave+playground+tunnel+entre+prises3.jpg" width="337" /></a></div><br />[Found at the always-interesting home of <a href="http://bldgblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/speleological-superparks.html">architectural conjecture: BLDGBLOG</a>.]Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-18202191213022005742012-05-10T04:39:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.821-07:00Kid's Bicycle Helmet - Toy or Tool? 8 Features to look for!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXglwz9A71WQwphJ1LtDqD3TSAIp93CQ_5s7tbRhEzvuLOPVTseZ8yAM_OXiGXi6LiHqHbQqgDL3NUaJOQBvpuJWKsGvJaHowa941IhYUwSrTWpukmFCJgusIb2vAIrkTXDk2Buyt17XKx/s1600/fitting+a+helmet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXglwz9A71WQwphJ1LtDqD3TSAIp93CQ_5s7tbRhEzvuLOPVTseZ8yAM_OXiGXi6LiHqHbQqgDL3NUaJOQBvpuJWKsGvJaHowa941IhYUwSrTWpukmFCJgusIb2vAIrkTXDk2Buyt17XKx/s320/fitting+a+helmet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Kid's are impulsive, eager to race like a madman on their bike without being totally aware of traffic and other hazards of the road. A toddler bicycle helmet can only help protect your child's skull when and if something happens if it is on their head and if it is held in the right place. What are the 8 features that encourage them to wear their helmet and wear it correctly?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step one might be to make sure you buy the right kid's helmet. To help you in that adventure here's the 8 features to look for.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1. Certification: all helmets should come with a safety standard label on the inside of the helmet (full list of certification agencies on my website)</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2. Get the right size. Dedicated sizes are typically easier to fit firmly than universal one size fits all models.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3. A Pinch Free Chin Buckle. If your child catches their neck skin in the buckle every time they lock it in place you can guarantee it will never get done up, then they might as well not be wearing one at all.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4. A Strap and harness system that adjusts easily with one hand and fits their head comfortably, around the forehead and past the ears.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5. Lots of Vents, especially for the passionate racer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWWMwgkSkfFKxmHXdsOd8NabV4CVVVRC6-ZsNrhOMyGVqC1gCMhqEzKEVt8kMKBE8x2L8Wod1skk7eRuOEMN7ApKXEDzhj0pAcg5BfJwm5276R11PQwMY7P8vgcm27gOx7HRKzHKfpx42/s1600/PanakosKidsBikeRodeoJune08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWWMwgkSkfFKxmHXdsOd8NabV4CVVVRC6-ZsNrhOMyGVqC1gCMhqEzKEVt8kMKBE8x2L8Wod1skk7eRuOEMN7ApKXEDzhj0pAcg5BfJwm5276R11PQwMY7P8vgcm27gOx7HRKzHKfpx42/s320/PanakosKidsBikeRodeoJune08.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6. Smooth, slippery outer shell that will slide around any and all obstacles. Aero tails look cool, but on a tumble the back fin can torque the head in a nasty fashion.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7 A pony tail port if the hair style dictates a need.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">8. A colour and decoration that appeals to your child. Their input into the buying decision will definitely encourage more compliance.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Assuming you can then find a helmet that fits with these objectives and at the same time appeals to your young cyclist the next challenge is to get them to wear it. Take the time to fiddle with the strap to create a firm fit around the ears without the straps twisting, and then tighten up the chin strap to hold the helmet in place.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You should not be able to move the helmet more than one inch in any direction and if you twist the helmet the skin should move as well. The forehead should not be left exposed. When looking at the side, the helmet should be parallel to the ground and not tilted forward obscuring vision or the reverse of this and tilted to the back like a baseball cap.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Again the most important thing to remember is that the helmet is there for a reason, AND that has nothing to do with making a fashion statement. Keep your child safe with a well fitted and finely designed toddler bicycle safety helmet.</div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-5508773683738589"; /* KIDS336 */ google_ad_slot = "4097838048"; google_ad_width = 336; google_ad_height = 280; //--></script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><br /><br />Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/555716</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-49772038336817586072012-05-07T14:33:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.822-07:00Host a Children's Playground Workshop like WhATA, Sofia Bulgaria, 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzWpF2KhMbczqncGwQ7cqmBJWOeKM2v2aw2G80RX_Z1EW4SV_6-VW_K3zH-VvlgkKLz4G0bZcGqTouwO9P49439176jrFl3ZtABkvyZtfbIGhpGroy-cdlXwe71BaUDTWc9gy5UkV9es/s1600/sofia+bulgaria+children%27s+playground+playscape+workshop5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzWpF2KhMbczqncGwQ7cqmBJWOeKM2v2aw2G80RX_Z1EW4SV_6-VW_K3zH-VvlgkKLz4G0bZcGqTouwO9P49439176jrFl3ZtABkvyZtfbIGhpGroy-cdlXwe71BaUDTWc9gy5UkV9es/s400/sofia+bulgaria+children%27s+playground+playscape+workshop5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />One of the greatest things about writing the blog is hearing from those of you who are making new playscapes, or improving the playgrounds where you're at. Just recently I contacted a school about their self-built natural playground and asked them why they made it and they said 'well, your blog, actually', which is a nice sort of circle. <br /><br />One of my favorites of these sort of letters came from <a href="http://whata.org/">WhATA, </a>an architectural group in Sofia, Bulgaria. Tasked with organizing a leave-a-mark-in-the-city workshop with the Chicago architect Thomas Kong at <span class="il">Sofia</span> Architecture Week 2011, they chose to focus on playgrounds and to use one of the Playscapes blog mottoes: "Because a playground doesn't have to cost a million bucks and come in a box. In fact, it's better if it doesn't" as inspiration.<br /><br />Their <a href="http://whata.org/blog-en/the-children-playground-workshop-at-saw11">Playground Workshop </a>serves as a great model for anyone looking to jumpstart the play conversation in their own community.<br /><br />WhATA started with a survey about area playgrounds, to which 384 parents responded.<br /><br />"<i>There was one opinion in the survey: <i>Why every newly-built children playground is just a square with a fence? This standard way to do everything is certainly not the best for our children and their education."</i></i><br /><br />Then they invited architects, designers and landscape architects, but also parents not “in the business” to a workshop. <br /><br />"<i>We decided to set the following task: make a standard formal playground by using the informal, spontaneous play of children — e.g. stepping on shafts?, climbing on crooked tree branches, balancing on curbes, shoveling fallen leaves, jumping on tree logs, etc</i><br /><i>We picked three children playgrounds (neglected) in Sofia which cover three main types:</i><br /><ul><li><i>small playground in the centre of the city (Doktorskata Garden)</i></li><li><i>playground in a park (Borisovata Garden)</i></li><li><i>playground in a panel residential complex (between the apartment blocks in Druzhba 2)</i></li></ul><i>The task had two main points which can be summarized as follows:</i><br /><ol class="longlist"><li><i>Make a list of plays you’ve seen children spontaneously do outside the playground (jumping in puddles, walking on curbes, etc)</i></li><li><i>Following the list, try to create a play-scape (not just a play-ground) on one of the selected sites</i></li></ol><i>Present your ideas by sketches and text."</i><br /><br />The designs they produced for three mundane, un-playful play areas in Sofia are innovative and inspiring, and WhATA hopes to realize at least one of the designs for <span class="il">Sofia</span> Architecture Week 2012. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDPF_9dpfgm7SC9zhBwRFNpkxCr-c4U5LqIfPkfJzrDa9iMg0KTWoBuw3FpQfXJDGIkHq9MItBhEcsSliP7be5JiZX57OX9UFXsRve85tKL485xaypU5V0_W-k65GNugHkB8w2jCNFKE/s1600/sofia+bulgaria+children%27s+playground+playscape+workshop1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDPF_9dpfgm7SC9zhBwRFNpkxCr-c4U5LqIfPkfJzrDa9iMg0KTWoBuw3FpQfXJDGIkHq9MItBhEcsSliP7be5JiZX57OX9UFXsRve85tKL485xaypU5V0_W-k65GNugHkB8w2jCNFKE/s400/sofia+bulgaria+children%27s+playground+playscape+workshop1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rTO0pp5tkXjqaM4bzqPcLBhdEiDfxJMpPH33HsYYnMTCzoNJRqKtzUzXgNKhKrwi3v7LUAYPsSjK9enz0pg6cSo4U2mOfQK326dxT3JNCn5_GjVhQcHTnROOqlxknt5XXlQqGXGXrw0/s1600/sofia+bulgaria+children%27s+playground+playscape+workshop2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rTO0pp5tkXjqaM4bzqPcLBhdEiDfxJMpPH33HsYYnMTCzoNJRqKtzUzXgNKhKrwi3v7LUAYPsSjK9enz0pg6cSo4U2mOfQK326dxT3JNCn5_GjVhQcHTnROOqlxknt5XXlQqGXGXrw0/s400/sofia+bulgaria+children%27s+playground+playscape+workshop2.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1IY9PcJu6qSrn22Xg81TkqN1ngLCzkR_t83OaJhUWiXF19ZJ5b9ScuNFnrHDnw1XpbRtVZMwx3IZRhnYGPynQbj5wJXpcmQD8bLNpBSertpx2nuUO5U47I2zJp7YUPpGGOQcbrx9wIs/s1600/sofia+bulgaria+children%27s+playground+playscape+workshop3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1IY9PcJu6qSrn22Xg81TkqN1ngLCzkR_t83OaJhUWiXF19ZJ5b9ScuNFnrHDnw1XpbRtVZMwx3IZRhnYGPynQbj5wJXpcmQD8bLNpBSertpx2nuUO5U47I2zJp7YUPpGGOQcbrx9wIs/s400/sofia+bulgaria+children%27s+playground+playscape+workshop3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnH4KAo78k1quI-SgqRQovBt7ok7SKAaMYAtfM-6WGmn7FhOisBADgwsZKhFTNKNFBFnGFqoml9Cfrs4PLbsZroO0JfSwrzwy_9e0a77Jb8Ro9rSWmnr_gavMae4kI_LHiQnrqB0GcC8/s1600/sofia+bulgaria+children%27s+playground+playscape+workshop4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnH4KAo78k1quI-SgqRQovBt7ok7SKAaMYAtfM-6WGmn7FhOisBADgwsZKhFTNKNFBFnGFqoml9Cfrs4PLbsZroO0JfSwrzwy_9e0a77Jb8Ro9rSWmnr_gavMae4kI_LHiQnrqB0GcC8/s400/sofia+bulgaria+children%27s+playground+playscape+workshop4.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br /><br />So how about it readers? Why not host your own playground workshop to start talking about better spaces for play wherever you are? Right now, the conversation about play belongs mostly to local government officials and their few chosen providers. You can change that! I'll even come speak at your workshop if I can. Get in touch with your ideas, or what you are already doing to improve the space for play in your community! <br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-28935010225158276372012-05-03T10:04:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.822-07:00Lion's Park Playscape, Rural Studio, Greensboro Alabama, 2011<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvkre2uAc4QVm1lqkJLuXH1h6Y6LXZhgdbbxApJe2GGpBSoIyGjH8j2_Bz7ReDFPc-Xk6iCwEExBe186nvhU6IfCAlp2DInP8kQksduzyM0fZBhGw4_6TLs_r7cb61GkWd4GOqx58JzM/s1600/rural+studio+lions+park+playground+playscape1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvkre2uAc4QVm1lqkJLuXH1h6Y6LXZhgdbbxApJe2GGpBSoIyGjH8j2_Bz7ReDFPc-Xk6iCwEExBe186nvhU6IfCAlp2DInP8kQksduzyM0fZBhGw4_6TLs_r7cb61GkWd4GOqx58JzM/s400/rural+studio+lions+park+playground+playscape1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Timothy Hursley</td></tr></tbody></table> I'm just one of many architecture lovers who admire the work of Alabama-based Rural Studio (see a good<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304356604577342370002244732.html"> overview in a recent WSJ piece</a>). It gives students hands-on design and construction experience by building innovative structures made of inexpensive, accessible materials. They devote themselves to Alabama's Hale County, which I first came to know from reading James Agee's Great Depression manifesto <i>Let us Now Praise Famous Men. </i><br /><br />A <a href="http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/2008/06/hero-playground-rural-studio-greensboro.html">1996 Rural Studio playground construction</a> has been previously featured on the blog, and I'm pleased to see that they are calling their new space a 'playscape'.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mgmtYt1ShE7xjAfJx-r8cjv6GDFSDfwWryRZwVqxWe1JgQCZe3EAaoJxvSYDNm4pCeprPBL-YvNl0vMORoSMTBEXJmDPkRG5xCj2NeLu41srTr51ouw9lpokgGyU-_dC3J4rzSxhEEc/s1600/rural+studio+lions+park+entrance+gates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mgmtYt1ShE7xjAfJx-r8cjv6GDFSDfwWryRZwVqxWe1JgQCZe3EAaoJxvSYDNm4pCeprPBL-YvNl0vMORoSMTBEXJmDPkRG5xCj2NeLu41srTr51ouw9lpokgGyU-_dC3J4rzSxhEEc/s400/rural+studio+lions+park+entrance+gates.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUl1kH9FVK8BSs1O_1ULv6LfiarbwzwsxJA8yMV3OQEK7Ivx-54ICL2xDnYWhwKdlTArJn4Nkl7EcHQZHZNWeXC-4F0pM7bh4JW3SVpK0RP4cIuEzrToYl2lxwfeN_iI5ZP3gT34JIC8/s1600/rural+studio+lions+park+skate+park+tony+hawk+foundation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUl1kH9FVK8BSs1O_1ULv6LfiarbwzwsxJA8yMV3OQEK7Ivx-54ICL2xDnYWhwKdlTArJn4Nkl7EcHQZHZNWeXC-4F0pM7bh4JW3SVpK0RP4cIuEzrToYl2lxwfeN_iI5ZP3gT34JIC8/s400/rural+studio+lions+park+skate+park+tony+hawk+foundation1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxh85SAA1F6cv02nVwnQ8pb9F66rq0lS9LNPTcG7ZUCuxMvYqhlJIpUh9JQ5_b9fRtRKOUpncfEqgRpKPpXMaMv5PUmWt_3uPp-YDi8jHOXtI4l85TYzPxmIaQMfpIjqFJ-OgeTLI5ow/s1600/rural+studio+lions+park+skate+park+tony+hawk+foundation2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxh85SAA1F6cv02nVwnQ8pb9F66rq0lS9LNPTcG7ZUCuxMvYqhlJIpUh9JQ5_b9fRtRKOUpncfEqgRpKPpXMaMv5PUmWt_3uPp-YDi8jHOXtI4l85TYzPxmIaQMfpIjqFJ-OgeTLI5ow/s400/rural+studio+lions+park+skate+park+tony+hawk+foundation2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />It's located in<a href="http://www.ruralswalabama.org/attractions/revitalization-of-lions-park-rural-studio-projects/"> Greensboro's Lion's Park</a>, which they've been renovating since about 2004, already redesigning the ball fields, adding eye-catching entrance gates, and re-landscaping with concrete and rock pathways that both guide visitors and cover buried utilities. They added toilet facilities powered by collected rainwater and a mobile concession stand, and "<i>designed and constructed an elaborate skateboarding park, complete with half-pipes, jumps, and other obstacles. Funding was donated by the <a href="http://www.tonyhawkfoundation.org/">Tony Hawk Foundation</a>, and the end result is probably the most amazing skatepark that has ever been constructed for $25,000."</i><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ObLnGCZ4CCKWrrQy3NOrS4vuKeasyna-KKHZfj7euxLaVsb9vCzYyd613qfviC4kxFeWe_JxwAgYipsyFs2PcGt_JhbF2QjWZCHPHsNeonoavrPxV7niNWiHqQ8jfn_ltRLD2JB7tJk/s1600/rural+studio+lions+park+playground+playscape2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ObLnGCZ4CCKWrrQy3NOrS4vuKeasyna-KKHZfj7euxLaVsb9vCzYyd613qfviC4kxFeWe_JxwAgYipsyFs2PcGt_JhbF2QjWZCHPHsNeonoavrPxV7niNWiHqQ8jfn_ltRLD2JB7tJk/s400/rural+studio+lions+park+playground+playscape2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Timothy Hursley</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5d2y4ZmG0sX3eQHdyJ8uJiiT7oMYH7sF9wMJEA_Q8sI1wc5d_3YS46Drcb388x3cm09pReN7DqvC5x0t4urqhlnZ8yhbog2y1wo1_2K4QPrD1w-653XTr0Pkmg8H_PFCgHzXsMc7kjCw/s1600/rural+studio+lions+park+playground+playscape3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5d2y4ZmG0sX3eQHdyJ8uJiiT7oMYH7sF9wMJEA_Q8sI1wc5d_3YS46Drcb388x3cm09pReN7DqvC5x0t4urqhlnZ8yhbog2y1wo1_2K4QPrD1w-653XTr0Pkmg8H_PFCgHzXsMc7kjCw/s400/rural+studio+lions+park+playground+playscape3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Timothy Hursley</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmR7j61BIzLQDNBkg6JRrubvXJpiRMjedX6BusMi6YJa35VdK31tSO7HYS8s08N-Mmk7O5RWvS2p8iE0g5aHX5r2a531KmJYXTs0ykYAAvFw8LMTCOGz4LJkfQWbOWDZhxh0LlM9fMkEE/s1600/rural+studio+lions+park+playground+playscape4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmR7j61BIzLQDNBkg6JRrubvXJpiRMjedX6BusMi6YJa35VdK31tSO7HYS8s08N-Mmk7O5RWvS2p8iE0g5aHX5r2a531KmJYXTs0ykYAAvFw8LMTCOGz4LJkfQWbOWDZhxh0LlM9fMkEE/s400/rural+studio+lions+park+playground+playscape4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Timothy Hursely</td></tr></tbody></table><br />And now there is the new playscape! It has come in for some criticism for its galvanized steel drum elements (they're recycled mint oil barrels) but Rural Studio did have the good sense to construct a complete shade canopy, unlike the designers of <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/04/07/brooklyn_bridge_parks_playground_wi.php">NYC's Brooklyn Bridge playground</a>, where several children were burned on the <a href="http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/2010/03/shiny-happy-playground-features-from.html">metal play domes</a> after they were installed in 2010. <br /><br />2,000 of the donated 55-gallon drums are arranged in a maze that allows kids to chase both in between and on top of the walls. In some places of the canopy, the top and bottom of drums have been removed so that the sky and clouds are visible, and so that the ground plane remains well lit. <br /><br />I particularly like the 'shouting tubes', and the sensitive berms for groundplay (hooray for playgrounds that aren't completely flat!) both inside and outside the maze.<br /><br />Look closely at the kids looking down on the shouting tubes: that reminds me so much of being up on top of the haybales, close to the roof of my grandfather's barn. It's a spatial reference that resonates beautifully in this rural landscape.<br /><br />[see more on the playscape at <a href="http://archrecord.construction.com/features/humanitariandesign/united-states/Lions-Park-Playscape.asp">Architectural Record</a>. Thanks to Cynthia Gentry of the <a href="http://www.playatlanta.org/">Atlanta Taskforce on Play</a> and the <a href="http://www.ipaworld.org/">International Play Association</a>, for the tip!]Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0Greensboro, AL 36744, USA32.7045753 -87.595839632.6912138 -87.6155806 32.717936800000004 -87.576098600000009tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-50265378059907032752012-05-01T14:41:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.822-07:00The Playscape Chronicles of Frode Svane<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQKoDiurzqGa-vgckIPNNGe9shJEEzZ-Zpgb8Xcfy48B1rXu538V8LsBQc5HWCvXaQUQBPbiWoZ7pYW1ITNRhoIX-vmVhdo_8FLHLBUvKIWvZLvXYXWBOD8oxGZbODlnkUSkIO66Jn-k/s1600/svane+frode+secondary+school+teen+playgrounds1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQKoDiurzqGa-vgckIPNNGe9shJEEzZ-Zpgb8Xcfy48B1rXu538V8LsBQc5HWCvXaQUQBPbiWoZ7pYW1ITNRhoIX-vmVhdo_8FLHLBUvKIWvZLvXYXWBOD8oxGZbODlnkUSkIO66Jn-k/s400/svane+frode+secondary+school+teen+playgrounds1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK8jWv8dJZJCajQxgs3cm1CDVg_JW1J6ZyhucRflUbVoTEgM69ohyWkiOW-jmjlX2ArB94xsVLhxlmiFYRZXPzPCJBoPfdGVkQXtrSwmtwwhtia9z5dNL3ISIaiWub1LLrfQW8yYubv8/s1600/svane+frode+secondary+school+teen+playgrounds2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK8jWv8dJZJCajQxgs3cm1CDVg_JW1J6ZyhucRflUbVoTEgM69ohyWkiOW-jmjlX2ArB94xsVLhxlmiFYRZXPzPCJBoPfdGVkQXtrSwmtwwhtia9z5dNL3ISIaiWub1LLrfQW8yYubv8/s400/svane+frode+secondary+school+teen+playgrounds2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Rz47_DxJM6gOtej0ywhyphenhyphenji_eydTRPxrHnDXCFAfwPsoPg3C8XXDGkjgfc_HUPX8Ba0SWilFAf9skyianrPZrFtEjWVlv28bdqhCDe1i33YN74ObHoaSFvywQL94UbOlC7vfx0aVKI5o/s1600/svane+frode+secondary+school+teen+playgrounds3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Rz47_DxJM6gOtej0ywhyphenhyphenji_eydTRPxrHnDXCFAfwPsoPg3C8XXDGkjgfc_HUPX8Ba0SWilFAf9skyianrPZrFtEjWVlv28bdqhCDe1i33YN74ObHoaSFvywQL94UbOlC7vfx0aVKI5o/s400/svane+frode+secondary+school+teen+playgrounds3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbpm08GyKdyT7P-8R6QNQ0-xgcanzGzWdd3qPFgGQbWRsm78f2y3MY5zyOI1gAEmtLthk9l8AHDJ5s1Hb8-Nd4pyv5Sn4backztAoxxCo_2OK3cBxM5YKGjWeBJO2R8YBpuvY3HXyAv4/s1600/svane+frode+secondary+school+teen+playgrounds4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbpm08GyKdyT7P-8R6QNQ0-xgcanzGzWdd3qPFgGQbWRsm78f2y3MY5zyOI1gAEmtLthk9l8AHDJ5s1Hb8-Nd4pyv5Sn4backztAoxxCo_2OK3cBxM5YKGjWeBJO2R8YBpuvY3HXyAv4/s400/svane+frode+secondary+school+teen+playgrounds4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Sometimes I get asked where the best playgrounds in the world are. Hands down they're in the countries of northern Europe, where long-standing cultural values for being outside and a realistic approach to risk have led to play installations that are truly child-focused. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.barnas-landskap.org/">Frode Svane, teacher and playground expert</a>, hails from Norway and he's documented many of the best European playgrounds in his extensive albums, available on facebook. His photographic chronicles are a huge trove of inspiration for the playscape-maker, of which the ones featured in this post are a small, small selection; I'm particularly inspired at the moment by his <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.125038570891394.18732.100001557546378&type=3">idea set for secondary schools</a> (selections above), since play environments for teens continue to be a missed opportunity in play design.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjiNmxBis-waiECkzKVQRbIK2aGYzwCbi0MKQBY_SKvsl18xr7B02DVhFr6Df1JDgracmw8VOfBhSnXNC16PfGBPHvS-1dF3sQiKTnNi751OVlpxnHWTJox3angSeIzxG7LA49GTMZsc/s1600/svane+frode+natural+playground+playscape+waterplay1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjiNmxBis-waiECkzKVQRbIK2aGYzwCbi0MKQBY_SKvsl18xr7B02DVhFr6Df1JDgracmw8VOfBhSnXNC16PfGBPHvS-1dF3sQiKTnNi751OVlpxnHWTJox3angSeIzxG7LA49GTMZsc/s400/svane+frode+natural+playground+playscape+waterplay1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD0A4Oyqn1ulc3DzhiKsX33WHyXH8AYgNDw49AaINFLPj3mqPGI7w9q_oeqvmsA0FiElyqgV4Xt4p3z1toczD7Z1jSUyLTImaeoOnOTf2x7WzXru-gvYrlKbpOuzZmCleujgB26J98VI/s1600/frode+svane+natural+playground+playscape+sandbox1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD0A4Oyqn1ulc3DzhiKsX33WHyXH8AYgNDw49AaINFLPj3mqPGI7w9q_oeqvmsA0FiElyqgV4Xt4p3z1toczD7Z1jSUyLTImaeoOnOTf2x7WzXru-gvYrlKbpOuzZmCleujgB26J98VI/s400/frode+svane+natural+playground+playscape+sandbox1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />You'll also find loads of ideas for natural playgrounds elements: Frode has been promoting nature play and natural playscapes since way before the current children and nature movement and before I had even heard those terms myself. Sometimes when larger forces take over we lose track of who the real trailblazers were; I consider Frode to be one of them, and his playground chronicles (I don't know anyone else with soo many playground pictures!) are endlessly inspiring.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AqnWMqAv2MpdnQ5xPJsyopKRMV6_uwyXTBLoKsel6T33eeMTPbHRap_viK3uICl8P27thyphenhyphenPU-txsVlSukYHQH7kKqVo2Rh49lDhDVEzvVzrfglx-gFkfSvtSolf2gjAgrKzw0_8-MrI/s1600/svane+frode+natural+playground+playscape+climbing+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AqnWMqAv2MpdnQ5xPJsyopKRMV6_uwyXTBLoKsel6T33eeMTPbHRap_viK3uICl8P27thyphenhyphenPU-txsVlSukYHQH7kKqVo2Rh49lDhDVEzvVzrfglx-gFkfSvtSolf2gjAgrKzw0_8-MrI/s400/svane+frode+natural+playground+playscape+climbing+wall.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4ltywiyxQnVgjXGwGe0YkC-VfqFbRORuwfFSCrYpKXNythRd5GYSbtlZsYZJmkrdKD_HDfHFDWJZFPYjIn_-HBEFj3t1KihZOZeV6W7QacpqpYR7c5SQcUg1oIP4ZZg8Jh5wR0pDHec/s1600/svane+frode+jungle+playground+tire1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4ltywiyxQnVgjXGwGe0YkC-VfqFbRORuwfFSCrYpKXNythRd5GYSbtlZsYZJmkrdKD_HDfHFDWJZFPYjIn_-HBEFj3t1KihZOZeV6W7QacpqpYR7c5SQcUg1oIP4ZZg8Jh5wR0pDHec/s400/svane+frode+jungle+playground+tire1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4evgxZzg-o-0EkYQKZEIAxgTVo1aA2QN2NDL1tihXRhbWVK7Oh8imDnvoW4Hs-Wt-Uvo_PX8_dmrsTrq7vfsqxGxnzEenON71KFnwCUAms7qi7CnApW-QRxHLa9ZZ7RVU19TuOmA3Dyk/s1600/svane+frode+jungle+playground+tire1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Frode also hosts <a href="http://www.facebook.com/notes/svane-frode/berlin-studytrip-june-27-30-2012/395055160506833">study trips of European playgrounds</a>: one each year in Berlin and sometimes also in Scandinavia as well. This year's Berlin trip is June 27-30 (and I've just noticed that the registration deadline was April 12...contact Frode asap for remaining availability) <br /><br />I dream of taking one of these myself, but alas my uni doesn't consider this a legitimate use of laboratory travel funds....even if you can't take the trip, visit vicariously through Frode Svane's photo chronicles.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-26807896985141470822012-04-30T11:49:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.822-07:00Krabbelknoten (A Mathematical Play Sculpture), Erlebnisland Mathematik Dresden, 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeL5nKr84F4O9cYCoF8bAI1CiQ3Jh8Qs4TZYZB3sUT-SXJWbe1864Uebm4pKEw_o5vJ6Pw0mXMIGqmzPkhL1SbV4edOTQF6tuhIjCpaBvBdrhltWbpFA-IFAxkISq1wuaeZh8CYVqlkg/s1600/knot+playground+sculpture+topology+museum+playscape+dresden4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeL5nKr84F4O9cYCoF8bAI1CiQ3Jh8Qs4TZYZB3sUT-SXJWbe1864Uebm4pKEw_o5vJ6Pw0mXMIGqmzPkhL1SbV4edOTQF6tuhIjCpaBvBdrhltWbpFA-IFAxkISq1wuaeZh8CYVqlkg/s400/knot+playground+sculpture+topology+museum+playscape+dresden4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGGb1sXqluHXPoC4p8NvmWyGIpK2bWhRtpLaYKMuNHtazz_N-V4G8O8GgjRkVMyYYPt29AGDs6zoQIEMXE1j6yW_gekThhipynP1sN28FxKYQoqZM13WEbekyWKJqpyJvxValeVk1FMU/s1600/knot+playground+sculpture+topology+museum+playscape+dresden3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGGb1sXqluHXPoC4p8NvmWyGIpK2bWhRtpLaYKMuNHtazz_N-V4G8O8GgjRkVMyYYPt29AGDs6zoQIEMXE1j6yW_gekThhipynP1sN28FxKYQoqZM13WEbekyWKJqpyJvxValeVk1FMU/s400/knot+playground+sculpture+topology+museum+playscape+dresden3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl85zZK55aHg27llJddn_UwQFLnnIM3Eg0ZJ1FtTeg4mnYTRjAx52NET4rbWwNWXdxeLs1eKTof39wJ6TdhIZI45KUz_YRpjmROL020mXUsX4eEue9oWlR5XBz_RoOe9foSj1DDDr5Yw/s1600/knot+playground+sculpture+topology+museum+playscape+dresden1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSl85zZK55aHg27llJddn_UwQFLnnIM3Eg0ZJ1FtTeg4mnYTRjAx52NET4rbWwNWXdxeLs1eKTof39wJ6TdhIZI45KUz_YRpjmROL020mXUsX4eEue9oWlR5XBz_RoOe9foSj1DDDr5Yw/s400/knot+playground+sculpture+topology+museum+playscape+dresden1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">From playscapes reader Daniel Lordick of the Geometric Modeling and Visualisation lab at the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dresden University of Technology and the Architectural Representation and Design group at the Berlin Institute of Architecture (great science-art overlaps, there!) comes news of the "Krabbelknoten", a crawl-through knot installed at the <a href="http://www.math.tu-dresden.de/alg/erlebnisland/">'Math Adventure Land' in Dresden</a> in 2011.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The play-sculpture, which is sized for either children or adults (and was indeed celebrated by full-size modern dancers at its inauguration), is based on the topological investigations of Professor Ulrich Brehm, also at the Dresden University of Technology, who works on what are essentially sophisticated mathematical knots. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"A mathematician’s knot differs from everyday knots in that the ends are joined together so that it cannot be undone. It is a closed curve....a surface with two openings but without any edges."</span></i><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which quite naturally makes for an interesting climbing experience in which the child traverses not just any tunnel, but a continuous mathematical function.</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mV6TS0axmpQ?rel=0" width="640"></iframe> <br /><br />The above video is only in German, but non-speakers can still appreciate the extensive mathematical modeling and subsequent engineering that went into making this delightful structure. <a href="http://daniellordick.de/docs/Lordick-DMS-2011.pdf">Further information on the knot's development and mathematical basis, including interesting details on safety and transport considerations, are available in pdf form. </a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJG_7pqoRFFe-uPTIF0PyMong9f38kc4YFJZXsy89kU3wj40f7FIuHnLMnFVekppdDKJz_1acXjG0DxN1aECh59XDvrygS3k6VmUkr7sVFcO0irVB-FCVeDPLiXS7brFFLrrgDYMjeIlc/s1600/knot+playground+sculpture+topology+museum+playscape+dresden2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJG_7pqoRFFe-uPTIF0PyMong9f38kc4YFJZXsy89kU3wj40f7FIuHnLMnFVekppdDKJz_1acXjG0DxN1aECh59XDvrygS3k6VmUkr7sVFcO0irVB-FCVeDPLiXS7brFFLrrgDYMjeIlc/s400/knot+playground+sculpture+topology+museum+playscape+dresden2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Topology is an absolute goldmine for new playground forms, well beyond the mobius strip (which is the mostly commonly known topological space). I'd love to see these and many more knotboxes on the playground. Thanks Daniel!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0Dresden, Germany51.0504088 13.737262150.8906998 13.421405100000001 51.2101178 14.0531191tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-75618633851012824532012-04-23T12:34:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:23:50.658-07:00Soссer Trорhіeѕ Cаn Make Goоd Collеctiblеs<a href="http://www.nettrophy.com/category/111/SOCCER-Trophies.html"><b>Sоссer Trорhіeѕ</b></a> аre сherіshеd by аll ѕоссer рlауеrѕ аnd alwaуs fіnd a sресial plасе in thе drawing room оr ѕtudy fоr аll tо seе. It iѕ after all rесоgnition оf exсellence іn a sрort that iѕ lovеd bу millіоnѕ acroѕs the globe. Thоugh trоphіеs tеnd tо be big enоugh to inсlude detаіls, mоdern technologу hаs рrovіdеd thе meanѕ tо іnnovаte аnd cоmе uр wіth great-lоokіng but unusuаl dеsigns. Theу loоk attrаctive аnd аlѕo сan be aѕ cоstly aѕ diamоndѕ. It all boіlѕ dоwn to good desіgn wоrk tо bring down соstѕ. Goоd trорhiеs prоvіdе grеаt mоtіvаtіon to а tеam on thе fiеld. Sоссer is а wоrld spоrt, and new еntreprеneurѕ have rеаlіzеd thе pоtеntіal to sell wеll-dеsіgned сups and mеdаls.<br />Quаlitу Is Imрrоving<br /><br />Big соrрoratеs and prоfessіonal сlubs аre trеnd ѕеttеrѕ thаt brіng аbout іnnоvаtiоn іnto a ѕpоrt likе ѕоссеr. A brаnd haѕ tо bе populаr tо bе іn thе еyеs of реорlе. A troрhу allоwѕ mаximum exроѕure with the оnly сonditіon being it haѕ tо bе оf еxceptional quality. Sреnding mіlliоnѕ tо creаte a mаѕterpiece іs onе waу оf doing it. For examplе, the Julеs Rimet World Cup haѕ аn еѕtіmated vаluе of ovеr $10 mіllіоn. It іѕ madе оf ѕolіd gоld, and nеаrlу evеryоnе whо knowѕ а bіt аbоut soсcеr has ѕeen іt. Suсh troрhieѕ іnѕpire deѕіgnеrs to соme uр wіth grеаt modіfіcatіоnѕ and replicаs thаt ѕtаnd оut, even thоugh thеy mау not be aѕ costly as the orіginal.<br /><br />A Gоod Trophy Affordѕ Greatеr Mоtivаtiоn<br /><br />Tеams are motivаted bу the ѕight оf a good trophy. We оftеn ѕee іt bеіng dіѕрlаyed оn а реdеѕtаl, which іnvаriаblу іnѕрirеѕ the tеams trуing to win іt. Tоurnаmеnts ѕtart at the junіor levеl and move on to highеr levеls. Thоugh рrizе mоnеу mау inсreаsе сonsіdеrablу at thе hіgher lеvеl, troрhіеs сan be еqually gоod at any ѕtage. Imagіnе a hugе trорhу dіѕplayed іn а ѕhоwcasе nеаr thе ѕсhооl entrаncе thаt won іt. Studеnts would ѕее it everу dаy аnd many would be encоurаged tо рursue thе gаmе.<br /><br />Trоphies Cаn Bе Sаfelу Bоught Onlinе<br /><br />Onlіne ѕtores ѕtock trорhіes frоm arоund thе world. Thеу have no іnventоrу tо bоther аbоut, аnd drор ѕhiрріng hаs rеaсhеd advаncе levels thаt can gеnerate grеat value. Small tournamentѕ аttract compеtіtіvе tеams bу offеrіng greаt trоphіеs. The оnlinе wоrld wоrkѕ, because іt gives сuѕtomеrѕ whаt they want аt thе bеѕt ratеѕ. It іѕ thеrefore eaѕy tо get hugе dіsсоuntѕ оn ѕoccеr trоphiеs јuѕt bу bеіng аt the rіght рlaсе at the right tіmе.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-33595048267404170962012-04-19T09:49:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.822-07:00Teens on the Playground: Youth Shelters by Superblue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g43xxZ7WM1nTmRHjm4pUAKNTO2XMQkpE4BbNkM50Qu4epD2pMVLLGUhqHn2qKJEE3Rn0W8Qd_v44yYYTaf822NJLpYVcyTAnNyTI-JqiTLR_SDiCIrm6IhigraWubwsgml1IByoRNVc/s1600/superblue+youth+playground+hangout3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g43xxZ7WM1nTmRHjm4pUAKNTO2XMQkpE4BbNkM50Qu4epD2pMVLLGUhqHn2qKJEE3Rn0W8Qd_v44yYYTaf822NJLpYVcyTAnNyTI-JqiTLR_SDiCIrm6IhigraWubwsgml1IByoRNVc/s400/superblue+youth+playground+hangout3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoH50VZgHeQXTv_-9hfklQyTkQ0mYZE4CU4aEGH0HGTMom4iNzw0wvVnEImEdywcf0a_kue17OTDH7kduGF3KJyWdjDcTnTDHspH91v7Or4ajbKlMYbO2ecPV5JbQvoYnQeoiO_pkwNok/s1600/superblue+youth+playground+hangout1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoH50VZgHeQXTv_-9hfklQyTkQ0mYZE4CU4aEGH0HGTMom4iNzw0wvVnEImEdywcf0a_kue17OTDH7kduGF3KJyWdjDcTnTDHspH91v7Or4ajbKlMYbO2ecPV5JbQvoYnQeoiO_pkwNok/s400/superblue+youth+playground+hangout1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_820AdEeQi4RSE1MOUo1JvcRwbTD87juiXnFIYskf-pVSFkmnmEKmZa3HuS9VOS1xM-lxrJPii46gAvYexzQ3ct3xP-8YQtCdkfcADlprK_N_d-Vu48R1pE5RibTgObRnPjLTkbpHUU/s1600/superblue+youth+playground+hangout2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_820AdEeQi4RSE1MOUo1JvcRwbTD87juiXnFIYskf-pVSFkmnmEKmZa3HuS9VOS1xM-lxrJPii46gAvYexzQ3ct3xP-8YQtCdkfcADlprK_N_d-Vu48R1pE5RibTgObRnPjLTkbpHUU/s400/superblue+youth+playground+hangout2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Superblue (they of the <a href="http://playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com/2012/02/more-playful-knitting-giant-knitting.html">Giant Knitting Nancy</a>) have installed an interesting <a href="http://www.superblue.co.uk/archives/news/furzefield_hertsmere_communoty.html">series of youth hang-out spaces</a> in parks in Hertsmere.<br /><br />As previously mentioned on the blog, youth often want a place to simply talk while engaging in some sporadic play activity and showing off. Not providing these spaces in playgrounds and parks can lead to teens taking over swings or climbing frames intended for much younger children. <br /><br />These structures do a good job of providing a feeling of enclosure and shelter in a space that is actually quite open and visible. And they all allow for a bit of show-off climbing!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-68689720613193033822012-04-19T05:04:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.822-07:00The Best Sunglasses For Kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypokginRdJSn_gO4kUKQ0gbWyGgpcyB3qrEBdqott4V8WnsamYZrm_pbHM-nb-WH-42JH0-w3OoHnBMA8oEQVjeDNkVSpKaoYL1SUGkl-b4sSsoW98ioSfgrJQSJqqiUhYVgNr0AmF14X/s1600/222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypokginRdJSn_gO4kUKQ0gbWyGgpcyB3qrEBdqott4V8WnsamYZrm_pbHM-nb-WH-42JH0-w3OoHnBMA8oEQVjeDNkVSpKaoYL1SUGkl-b4sSsoW98ioSfgrJQSJqqiUhYVgNr0AmF14X/s320/222.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Protecting children's eyes from direct sunlight is just as important as protecting adult eyes. However, many sunglasses that are marketed for children are very low quality and provide little in the way of actual protection from the UV rays of the sun that can cause damage. Finding the best sunglasses for children takes a bit of time but you can have the peace of mind in knowing that you are helping to protect your child's vision now and in the future.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>Choose Something The Child Likes</b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Most kids, like adults, have their own fashion sense. The great news is that some of the best sunglasses for kids are designed to be extremely kid friendly and with lots of style appeal. These can include brightly coloured frames, frames of different shapes and styles and even glasses that are designed to have a costume type of appeal for children.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Kids, whenever possible, should be involved in choosing the frames and style of the sunglasses. If Mom and Dad are doing the shopping then it is important to keep the child's likes and dislikes in mind as well as your own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzurU9wEOoFtUVokCz-5hGxfD4vr-ps4_8QB6v6IHFUcL6Zmaz-jYbmL62194pRcg2KXpVNYsvcgU9D2thmu4Z7FLhXrTnSYbjYlLufAzIYIc78JNJutkhWxvdm-oPe-wgyCGWcXxmniA/s1600/223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzurU9wEOoFtUVokCz-5hGxfD4vr-ps4_8QB6v6IHFUcL6Zmaz-jYbmL62194pRcg2KXpVNYsvcgU9D2thmu4Z7FLhXrTnSYbjYlLufAzIYIc78JNJutkhWxvdm-oPe-wgyCGWcXxmniA/s320/223.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>Fit Is Critical</b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The best sunglasses will fit well to the child's head and face. This is not only a cosmetic issue it is also a comfort factor. If the sunglasses don't fit, rub the nose or press in on the temples or behind the ear the kids are less likely to wear the glasses when parents are out of sight. In addition if the glasses are too large and are constantly sliding off the child's head they are soon going to be lost, dropped or broken.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Do not attempt to use adult frames and sunglasses on a child and instead look for manufacturers that offer specific children's styles. This helps to ensure a good fit and tends to also help ensure that the glasses are in style and what other kids will be wearing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOLmzeB12SN09t4Uk6-RTkaAKtUsxxll1OeqbbiDVQ1tPrackBexuLMrQPAKDbuGQflilD6yfbDdqTafGwu9BSkvAPxeeDUbfNMmOis0yDzUgJmAIYjSF0FOIGxxgiCyYILnt8G35Q-6Q/s1600/shutterstock_30366973(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOLmzeB12SN09t4Uk6-RTkaAKtUsxxll1OeqbbiDVQ1tPrackBexuLMrQPAKDbuGQflilD6yfbDdqTafGwu9BSkvAPxeeDUbfNMmOis0yDzUgJmAIYjSF0FOIGxxgiCyYILnt8G35Q-6Q/s320/shutterstock_30366973(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>Choosing Lenses</b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sunglasses for kids can have a variety of different lenses just like sunglasses for adults. For kids that are doing a lot of outside time on the water or at the beach, polarized sunglasses that cut down on glare may be an important consideration. This is also true for winter outdoor activities.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Polycarbonate lenses are a great idea for the best sunglasses for kids. These lenses are designed to be virtually indestructible and will not break into shards if they are damaged. It is also important to check for the UV ray blocking ability of the lenses.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>Talk About Eye Health</b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Parents need to talk to their children about protecting their eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. When parents buy the best sunglasses possible but don't educated their children about why it is important to wear them the kids sometimes miss the point. Children that understand why wearing sunglasses is more than a fashion statement are more likely to keep their glasses on and even help educate other kids about how important it is to protect their eyes while enjoying the great outdoors.</div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-5508773683738589"; /* KIDS336 */ google_ad_slot = "4097838048"; google_ad_width = 336; google_ad_height = 280; //--></script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><br /><br />Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6958882</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-55080869901189658422012-04-18T06:29:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:23:50.658-07:00Whаt Iѕ Collаborative B2B E-CommercеCоllаborаtivе<a href="http://www.businesstobusinessecommerce.ws/"><b> b2b е commеrсe </b></a>оr c-cоmmеrсе aѕ іt іѕ more pоpulаrlу known rеferѕ tо the prоcesѕ оf сompаniеs shаrіng their іntеllесtual саpіtаl аs wеll аѕ thеir cоre cоmреtencіes uѕіng the Intеrnet and B2B еxchаngеѕ. Buѕіnеѕses аre linked to theіr pаrtnеrs uѕіng extеnsіve, comрliсated аnd expеnѕіve infraѕtructure thаt еnables them to іnterасt with each othеr, sharing dаta and working tоgether to in а rеlіаblе аnd ѕecure B2B еxсhаnge. B2B еxchаngеѕ сan bе public or рrіvаte; buѕіnеsѕеs prefer рrivаte еxchangeѕ, аѕ theу are соnѕidеrеd mоre ѕеcure, reliаble аnd wherе theу cаn соntrol thе іnfrаstruсturе. Publіc exchangеs are rеlatіvеlу cheарer; оffer thе chancе of recruiting new custоmerѕ but these exchangeѕ hаvе not been vеrу ѕucceѕsful.<br />When buѕineѕѕеs collaborate and раrticipatе in B2B е-cоmmеrсе, thеy sаvе tіmе аnd labоr, reduce invеntoriеѕ, can eаsily find nеw сuѕtоmers аnd wоrk wіth them in a common platfоrm, hаve еxсеllent cоntrоl оver theіr suрply chaіn іntеgratiоn and gеt a соmреtitіvе edgе. Trаnѕactiоnѕ arе morе trаnѕpаrеnt аnd buѕiness рroсesѕеѕ arе morе strеаmlіnеd. With efficient B2B integratіоn, B2B рartnerѕ сan соllabоratе mоre еffесtivеlу helрing grоwth and boоѕting ѕales.<br /><br />Collаbоrаtіve B2B e-commerce requіres thе exсhangе of data and businesѕ рrocеsseѕ bеtwееn multірle busіnesѕ partnеrs ѕuch as suррliеrѕ, traders, buуers аnd diѕtrіbutоrѕ nесesѕіtating a largе соmрlеx іnfrаstructurе thаt mау cost between $30,000 to а fеw millіоn dоllаrs!<br /><br />Cеrtаіn baѕic fаctоrѕ influеnсe ѕuccesѕful cоllаboratіve B2B е-сommеrce such as bеіng able tо ѕhаrе rеsоurcеѕ tо сooреrаte bеtter, hаving ѕtаtе of аrt аutomated ѕystems to еnsure аn errоr frеe еnvіronment ensurіng userѕ ассеѕs tо datа by сheckіng іf theу are authоrіzеd to aссesѕ thаt dаta wіthout wаѕtіng muсh tіmе. Buѕіnеѕses ѕhоuld havе wеll defined сorporаtе polіcieѕ rеgarding comрliаncе to аll the ruleѕ аnd regulаtions thаt govern thе еxсhаngе оf іnformаtiоn as well аs prосеdurеs to ensure their іmрlementаtіon. Delegate authority tо deсіde on the level of acсeѕѕ to dаtа any emрloyeе саn gеt аnd орt for ѕyѕtemѕ that mаintaіn uѕer logs and audіt trаіlѕ for ѕecurіtу рurрoѕes. It iѕ better tо have exрerіenсed pеrsоnnel tо helр іmрlеment the рlanѕ.<br /><br />Challеngеѕ Faсed Bу Buѕіnеѕѕеs Oрtіng To Uѕе Cоllabоrаtіve B2b E-Cоmmercе:<br />Collabоratіvе B2B е-commеrce is ѕtill unteѕted tеrrіtоrу for mаny busіnesѕes as they аre dаuntеd bу the numеrоuѕ сhаllenges іt facеѕ.<br /><br />1. Invеsting in the іnfrаstructurе nееdеd to integrate іntеrnаl, as well аs extеrnal proceѕѕеѕ сan be а vеry сoѕtly venturе fеw сompanіes are able tо аfford.<br /><br />2. Gettіng buѕіnеsѕ partnerѕ to agrеe to usе collаbоratіve B2B е-сommercе саn bе anоthеr сhаllengе.<br /><br />3. Seсuritу оf datа ѕhаrеd is аnother аsрeсt to bе cоnѕіderеd.<br /><br />4. Thе more thе number оf business partnеrѕ, thе harder it is to get to dеѕign аn іnfrastruсturе thаt can dеal wіth thе diffеrent needѕ of thе diffеrеnt partnеrѕ of thе cоllabоrаtion.<br /><br />Therе аrе fіrmѕ thаt оffer serviсeѕ аs well аs рrоductѕ that help run businеsѕеѕ sucсeѕѕfully.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-13569544100094726062012-04-17T14:31:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.823-07:00And the Winner of the Build-It! Discs is:...Tom Bedard of St. Paul Minnesota! <br /><br /> Random.org spit out '2' as the winning number from among the 47 comments, so in this case the early bird gets the discs. Tom, get in touch via email please!<br /><br />Thanks to everyone for your kind words; they keep me going! One of the most exciting thing about the comments this year is that so many of you aren't just reading the blog, you're actually making your own playscapes--both as individuals and as communities--which is just so great. I'll do my best to keep providing you with all the inspiration I can!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-54962746819018915952012-04-13T14:30:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.823-07:00Playscapes Giveaway: Build-It! Discs for Temporary Playgrounds!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYSx6-XOjwVfJqdkUW2J5zTTF5vOHdhQ5BGe6r0UtAyuqSYnsS61RlRRIjUcJbwPpgXdxHUCd9frhGj6aA3ioN04AlPKEiDa8y_PEBFNVrQZQAMq-0-bav3BrMRJHRlJT_vZHaO4j_3E/s1600/alex+gilliam+build-it+discs+temporary+playgrounds4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYSx6-XOjwVfJqdkUW2J5zTTF5vOHdhQ5BGe6r0UtAyuqSYnsS61RlRRIjUcJbwPpgXdxHUCd9frhGj6aA3ioN04AlPKEiDa8y_PEBFNVrQZQAMq-0-bav3BrMRJHRlJT_vZHaO4j_3E/s400/alex+gilliam+build-it+discs+temporary+playgrounds4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mMbiCeWgewgciXMhr4f9sXKpE00caw33RmK9RETja5K8vNW3yzOcbbjkpWhgAV0x3B87TPOuolgY-soNCchk22i5wLxgsuOeauRYqbzVL55FzpuB3JPUf2XCXO0JF6Vlmec7uK57Nrg/s1600/alex+gilliam+build-it+discs+temporary+playgrounds2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mMbiCeWgewgciXMhr4f9sXKpE00caw33RmK9RETja5K8vNW3yzOcbbjkpWhgAV0x3B87TPOuolgY-soNCchk22i5wLxgsuOeauRYqbzVL55FzpuB3JPUf2XCXO0JF6Vlmec7uK57Nrg/s400/alex+gilliam+build-it+discs+temporary+playgrounds2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpz3eRFWda_DKzPWgr44rFd0glLRSjTM3zSbqQwDsEVTJnrjOIwXQb94QWpE_b8E3wVepggiCGJX7yJLZIiJOhndqArwiKkg_TnSxNgFtXiQnAIzTMyVlMMKe2uzYVk4-rPcGD0CNK7ZI/s1600/alex+gilliam+build-it+discs+temporary+playgrounds3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpz3eRFWda_DKzPWgr44rFd0glLRSjTM3zSbqQwDsEVTJnrjOIwXQb94QWpE_b8E3wVepggiCGJX7yJLZIiJOhndqArwiKkg_TnSxNgFtXiQnAIzTMyVlMMKe2uzYVk4-rPcGD0CNK7ZI/s400/alex+gilliam+build-it+discs+temporary+playgrounds3.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br /><br />Generally I have some sort of giveaway around the blog's birthday...I'm slow in getting it all together this year (lots of traveling this month) but here it is at last!<br /><br /><a href="http://publicworkshop.us/">Alex Gilliam of Public Workshop </a>creates uniquely engaging opportunities for youth and their communities to shape the design of their cities, in eminently playful ways. With the support of the <a href="http://nbm.org/">National Building Museum</a>, <a href="http://domaform.com/">Domaform</a> and Cynthia Field, he developed the Build-It! discs to "challenge possibility on playgrounds, vacant lots, in classrooms and your very own backyard.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YEbxvynuE_e3_cEZWdzWUcIVsC3iszKeguVLTz0LAvAjLnPKQoI7yjjlwCA8KA9fUA7jPcWdxwU94cuSy28rknB2_uHpfWex_LXToSubtqYTx8kwYjvOhDtW_1KoVSlK2ZKDwAW1yfE/s1600/alex+gilliam+build-it+discs+temporary+playgrounds1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YEbxvynuE_e3_cEZWdzWUcIVsC3iszKeguVLTz0LAvAjLnPKQoI7yjjlwCA8KA9fUA7jPcWdxwU94cuSy28rknB2_uHpfWex_LXToSubtqYTx8kwYjvOhDtW_1KoVSlK2ZKDwAW1yfE/s400/alex+gilliam+build-it+discs+temporary+playgrounds1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Build-It! Discs are fabricated in the United States from double-walled cardboard for extra durability and strength, allowing you to build your very best awe-inspiring structures over and over again. They are made from recycled paper and are 100% recyclable!"<br /><br />They're amazing just for fun, of course, but Public Workshop also uses them to focus on placemaking: exploring, for example, how an underutilized public space might be re-envisioned, and using the highly visible nature of a build-it structure to raise public awareness. They're great for self-building a temporary playscape, or imagining a new permanent playground. <br /><br />If you are the lucky winner of this giveaway, you'll receive THREE SETS (60 total) of Build-It! Discs, shipping included. Even to international locations, though they may take a while to arrive. If you don't win, you can still order your own--they're $35 (plus shipping) for a set of 20, 12 inch diameter discs--by emailing Alex directly. <br /><br />TO ENTER, just leave a comment! You can say something nice about playscapes (the blog is powered by good wishes), or make a suggestion for something you'd like to see here or in the playground world in general, or tell me about your favorite playscape ever.<br /><br />THE WINNER WILL BE RANDOMLY SELECTED FROM COMMENTS (one per userid, please)<i> </i>AT 2400 CST ON MONDAY APRIL 16.<br /><br />Hope you win! <br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3877230460207020230.post-8103774501748630552012-04-06T06:33:00.000-07:002012-06-21T23:43:41.823-07:00Choose Eyeglasses for Children<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-ZgX0wb6pa3kY7AUxiL6deu1RbS6bDr1-cyok1O5rnpmzO1HsCv9ZZWlxIRepv4p5nTvmNl-i_fsKUAcn9dLavBiZHjOUJ29ido3JHmoYYeJMobUZ-QQDd8zXjDL3vg_evCL6OZDhyphenhyphenmP/s1600/child3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-ZgX0wb6pa3kY7AUxiL6deu1RbS6bDr1-cyok1O5rnpmzO1HsCv9ZZWlxIRepv4p5nTvmNl-i_fsKUAcn9dLavBiZHjOUJ29ido3JHmoYYeJMobUZ-QQDd8zXjDL3vg_evCL6OZDhyphenhyphenmP/s320/child3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">For young small children, contact lenses simply aren't a choice when vision correction is needed. Contact lenses can typically be regarded as viable once the child hits the teen years, but until then, eyeglasses would be the most effective selection. Luckily, eyeglasses have changed radically in recent years.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Your son or daughter will have several decisions to make when selecting their eyeglasses. There are numerous types of eyeglass frame designs as well as colors and designer brands. Most kids will likely recognize most of the designer brands that have brightly colored frames and names such as Converse and Mary-Kate and Ashley. Older youngsters may possibly want the same designer styles their mothers and fathers wear including Lucky and Daisy Fuentes.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">From a parent's perspective, we realize that you would like to ensure that your kid's eyeglasses are both useful and sturdy. There is a wide selection of kid's eyeglasses that should satisfy your child's need to get a cool pair of eyeglasses. What's even better is that it can be equally friendly for your pocketbook.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TFNRQrNWUREYrgl71lKVLmisTvTlnnsgKxXkdPwPBkAaxqrDsUFioY9BmtTeAV_gR-sblIipkI8jc2SfAXYs76I6KWbQyEEefDDW9bgNYWLSTwA-p2KBMfYOATHCs5I47x6WW0Q3tP6l/s1600/child4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TFNRQrNWUREYrgl71lKVLmisTvTlnnsgKxXkdPwPBkAaxqrDsUFioY9BmtTeAV_gR-sblIipkI8jc2SfAXYs76I6KWbQyEEefDDW9bgNYWLSTwA-p2KBMfYOATHCs5I47x6WW0Q3tP6l/s320/child4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Whenever you are selecting kid's eyeglasses, there are some components to keep top of mind to be sure the frames will last:</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1. Look for spring hinges. These hinges make the eyeglasses additionally sturdy and significantly less probable to break when the eyeglass arms are opened too far.<br />2. Ask for polycarbonate lenses. These lenses are less probable to crack or break and are safer for your kid to wear.<br />3. For your little one who you understand will be tough on eyeglasses, have a look at stronger frames manufactured of lightweight metal or titanium.<br />4. Inquire about scratch resistant coatings. This is a particular coating that can be added to polycarbonate lenses to lower the scratches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0OLHYMic7Uoub5mkoOMGA5ORYltAFWgl6P2ukZd79BAGtaWJIGapRN_AR_BYMQPLn9G2LkEZQ9jtJCG5D8_RWXRQRmcbDThAt7Jtv2ps3XOfrDKGyJAhNDiavpOvGUpKMe1nkhhHSaz6/s1600/children-kids-eyeglasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0OLHYMic7Uoub5mkoOMGA5ORYltAFWgl6P2ukZd79BAGtaWJIGapRN_AR_BYMQPLn9G2LkEZQ9jtJCG5D8_RWXRQRmcbDThAt7Jtv2ps3XOfrDKGyJAhNDiavpOvGUpKMe1nkhhHSaz6/s320/children-kids-eyeglasses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">All of these options will support your desire to extend the life of your kid's eyeglasses and eyeglass frames. Warranties are another excellent option for children and generally will cover breakage as well as add additional coatings such as scratch resistance.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Whenever you stop by your eye doctor for an eye examination and kid's eyeglasses, make the trip pleasurable for your child. Make it easy for your youngster to try on and model numerous pairs of eyeglasses until she is pleased with those she's going to be wearing on a daily basis. For kids who are reluctant to wear glasses, encourage them to pick out a pair that matches their personality and to think of them as a fashion accessory for their eyes.</div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-5508773683738589"; /* KIDS336 */ google_ad_slot = "4097838048"; google_ad_width = 336; google_ad_height = 280; //--></script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><br /><br />Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6106876</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04130823826297154527noreply@blogger.com0