Assignment task: Read John Tierney's article, "Can a Playground Be Too Safe," and identify the causes and effects he discusses by answering the questions below. Then prepare an outline for a short essay response.
- What question is Tierney attempting to answer in his essay?
- Why does Ellen Sandseter think that children need to encounter risks?
- List the six categories of "risky play" that Sandseter observes.
- Name on positive result of "safety-first" playgrounds.
- Name one negative result of "Safety-first" playgrounds.
- What is the typical outcome when a child is hurt in a fall before age 9?
- What happens when we project our fear of harm onto our own children?
- How are playgrounds different than they used to be?
- What is the result of "safer" playgrounds?
- (Fill in the blank): When children feel safer, they tend to
- Briefly state your stance on this topic.
- Give 3 reasons that support your stance.
- Tierney incorporates a lot of supporting evidence in his article, but causation and correlation aren't always equivalent. Find evidence that supports the opposition (that safer playgrounds are better). Cite your source(s) (MLA or ???).
- Write a brief paragraph that illustrates a childhood experience you had on a playground.