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Shade & Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds
Bienenstock believes that the only way to truly
create a successful natural environment for children is to copy as closely as
possible the vegetation of an established forest. This means that all trees and shrubs in the
Natural Playground are more mature, native specimens. By using mature, native plants it is less
likely that children will be able to trample or hurt these plants, giving the
plants a chance to thrive in their new surroundings.
By using larger trees not only does it create an immediate
impact on the space they act as shade canopies to protect children and parents
from the harmful effects of UV rays. It
is very important to have lots of shade in playgrounds since 80% of lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18 (Boe
K, Tillotson EA, 2006).
A rule of thumb that we follow is called “The Shadow R ule”.
This rule is based on the height of the sun and was developed by two
Danish professors, Lorentzen and Weismann (2002). They describe the shadow rule as:
“A rule of thumb is: when shadows
are shorter than objects throwing them, avoid direct sunlight, when shadow and
object are of equal length restrict sun exposure to half an hour, and when
shadows are twice the length of objects an hour in the sun is permissible.”
By planting larger more mature trees, Bienenstock attempts to create a shadow that is at least twice the length of the
tree itself or a canopy that blocks sun entirely. Planting this way allows children and parents
to spend more time in Natural Playgrounds because they are more protected from
UV rays then in traditional playgrounds that are open and barren.
World Health Organization: Protecting Children from Ultraviolet Radiation
Children require special protection
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that
children, including all developmental stages from conception to age 18, have
the right to enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to a
safe environment. Children require special protection as they are at a higher
risk of suffering damage from exposure to UV radiation than adults, in
particular:
- A child's skin is thinner and
more sensitive and even a short time outdoors in the midday sun can result
in serious burns.
- Epidemiological studies
demonstrate that frequent sun exposure and sunburn in childhood set the
stage for high rates of melanoma later in life.
- Children have more time to
develop diseases with long latency, more years of life to be lost and more
suffering to be endured as a result of impaired health. Increased life
expectancy further adds to people's risk of developing skin cancers and
cataracts.
- Children are more exposed to
the sun. Estimates suggest that up to 80 per cent of a person's lifetime
exposure to UV is received before the age of 18 .
- Children love playing outdoors
but usually are not aware of the harmful effects of UV radiation.
Caring for children in the sun
According to an Australian study, four out of five cases of skin cancer are
preventable by sensible behaviour. Encouraging children to take simple
precautions will prevent both short-term and long-term damage while still
allowing them to enjoy the time they spend outdoors. Parents should serve as
role models, and it is their responsibility to ensure that their children are
protected adequately. Always keep infants of less than 12 months in the shade
and make sure your children:
- Cover up with protective
clothing, a hat and sunglasses.
- Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen
of SPF 15+.
- Limit their time in the midday
sun.
- Seek shade.
- Avoid sunlamps and tanning
parlours.
Shade, clothing and hats provide the best protection for children --
applying sunscreen becomes necessary on those parts of the body that remain exposed
like the face and hands. Sunscreen should never be used to prolong the duration
of sun exposure.
For more information click here.
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