I started filming the playground outside my window quite accidentally, with no plans to turn it into a research project. However, life had other plans and offered me the opportunity to view this phenomenon from different perspectives.
The children’s playground in the yard of my house is often empty, and I have some guesses as to why this phenomenon exists.
The playground was created by adults, for adults, as a «safe» place for their children to spend time. However, the children are not interested in this sterile space, as evidenced by the empty shots. Children only gather at the playground when adults organize activities such as a trampoline or a hockey rink. It turns out that the playground, as it exists now, misleads adults about the needs of children. They need something else — great slides, unique designs, a place to hide, etc.
Today’s playgrounds are created by adults for adults, not for children. Children who grow up in cities have difficulty finding opportunities to play, leading to empty playgrounds. Additionally, we see that city children are deprived of independence and often rely on their parents, delaying their decision-making abilities.
When compared to children who grow up in the countryside or villages, where children are left to their own devices and must rely on themselves, city children have it easy. In the city, they can simply call their parents and help will arrive within two minutes.
In fact, today’s children’s playground is a symbol of the degradation of childhood, with nobody playing on it. Instead, children are spending their time playing computer games.
