Dopesicles. Prefab play dwellings from architect Ryan Grey Smith are designed not offend the modern sensibilities you're working hard to pass on. The Modern Play Shed comes with a complete assembly kit and you can paint or stain the exterior as a family project or add on colorful wall panels. Outfit interiors with cork walls, rainbow floor tiles, whiteboards and chalkboards. Make it complete with a deck! Spring is coming quickly... so jump on it.

Gigantic teeter-totters (called 'wippen' in Germany) by DS Landscape Architects

Kindergarten Taku-Tuka Land by Susan Hoffman Architects

A not-so-grown-up conversation with my lovely friend Ashley, reciting recess rhymes and indulging the nostalgia of playtime, led to an amazing discovery - the blog PLAYSCAPES about the unique architecture of non-commercial playgrounds. The image samples above hint at the wonderful, informational curation of playgrounds worldwide new and old. Totally an under rated form of sculptural art, the kinetic experience a playground offers is beautiful and important. Insightful commentary about where each playground exists and why accompanies each image and the author often notes the impact playground design has on a child's learning process. Such as, the fact that seesaws are one of the few playground devices that require cooperation for play to occur (re the giant teeter-totters in Germany).