Remember the playground
Before the days of video games and facebook, most children could be found hanging from monkey bars, pumping their feet on the swings, and building larger than their life castles in the sand box. All of the latter activities were not controlled by a joystick or viewed from a couch, but actually happened in real life on a local playground.
It’s sad to see that “playgrounds” are no longer the go-to destination for neighborhood children. Some of my favorite childhood moments were spent dreaming while moving high into the sky on the swing. While traveling down memory lane, I thought I would explore the fabulous word, “playground.”
1 : a piece of land used for and usually equipped with facilities for recreation especially by children
According to Merriam-Webster, “playground” can be dated back to 1794. That being said, if “playground” had a time chart, I would imagine that as soon as “video game” entered the scene “playground” experienced a bit of a dip.
Within the definition there are two words that jump out at me, “land” and “recreation.” The joy of a playground is feeling the “land” under your feet as you run, jump and return to stable ground, as it truly is a ground that one plays on. “Recreation” is the most important word within the definition, as it means “refreshment of strength and spirits after work.” A playground is an essential part of any childhood, as it really is a place where a spirit can be refreshed as children smile, laugh and imagine. On that note, I think I might take a ride on a swing tomorrow and hopefully inspire some children while renewing my own spirit. When it comes to the “playground” we’re all children at heart, so go play!
image courtesy of dennis and aimee jonez
Filed under: etymology, words | 2 Comments
Tags: children, merriam webster, play, playground, recreation, sand box, swing
I never gave much thought to the meaning of recreation before reading this post. I knew what it refers to, but the word itself is so much more interesting now that I see it as re-creation.
I’ve been reading a lot relating to the 19th-century in America and there was definitely this idea that time spent outside and away from the type of work affiliated with civilization was key to becoming a fully-developed person. People like Teddy Roosevelt would go out to the West away from the cities and recreate themselves as these rugged individuals. And we still see it today in the public persona of our current president who enjoys being photographed clearing brush on his farm or playing golf. It’s clearly worked in distancing him from his elite, Northeastern origins.
Mike,
Thanks for such a thoughtful comment! I really love the info you shared, which has offered even more insight into the word “recreation.”