Loose parts on the Playground, Now and Then

During London Open for Play, I photographed (again!)  the wooden blocks for construction play at the Kate Greenaway Nursery playscape.

They reminded me of the Alexander Kemp playground in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  It was given a complete redesign in 2009, converting a staid equipment-based playground to a playscape including "a dragon boat, water games, a group swing, gardens,  natural woods, covered areas, its own hill,  a fantasy area, and  sand everywhere", according to the New Cambridge Observer.  But a mom from Cambridge who wrote to me said that actually the blocks were the most popular thing there. 

And finally, this charming photo of  blocks used for construction at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown Massachusetts, c. 1940 (see the other lovely playground photos on their flickr account, too!).  I love the larger size of these blocks.

A reminder, if you needed one, that loose parts play is essential, but it needn't be be expensive!