Chapter taken from Marketing the Green School: Form, Function, and the Future, 2014. (Chapter written by Lemasters L. K. & Greve, A. W. 2014).
Most of us remember playgrounds that consisted of an asphalt or gravel lot with swings, teeter-totters,
and monkey bars. When recess came, we went outdoors to play tag, Simon says, or kick ball. Just as
educational reform has changed the classroom and the curricula, concern about the environment has
changed school design and construction. This chapter examines the evolving changes in playing at school
and on playgrounds. The chapter introduces the reader to general information about playgrounds and
discusses the importance of green construction and sustainability. This includes a closer look at playgrounds
from the perspectives of health, child development, and related moral issues. Children need to
play in a safe and enjoyable environment.
