{"id":11581,"date":"2025-09-01T22:31:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T21:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/commonthreads.org.uk\/?post_type=product&p=11581"},"modified":"2026-01-12T13:35:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T13:35:49","slug":"tales-from-the-playground-playwork-stories-from-contemporary-adventure-playgrounds","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/commonthreads.org.uk\/index.php\/product\/tales-from-the-playground-playwork-stories-from-contemporary-adventure-playgrounds\/","title":{"rendered":"Tales from the Playground – playwork stories from contemporary adventure playgrounds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tales from the Playground – playwork stories from contemporary adventure playgrounds <\/em><\/strong>is a unique collection of stories from international adventure playgrounds (or \u2018junk playgrounds\u2019 as invented by Carl Theodore S\u00f8rensen). The book provides a rare glimpse into twelve modern adventure playgrounds, the staff and volunteers who nurture them and the children and families who treasure them. Each chapter reflects the individuality \u2013 and sometimes even eccentricity \u2013 of the adventure playgrounds themselves, weaving together history, theory, practice and personal testimony to bring each playground to life in the context of their individual social, historical, political and cultural landscapes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tales from the Playground<\/em> includes chapters from playworkers working on adventure playgrounds in Australia, China, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, UK and USA. It is illustrated throughout with colour photographs which show the similarities and differences between adventure playgrounds around the world.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This book dispels the commonly-held belief that \u2018you can\u2019t let them play like that anymore\u2019 and that real adventure playgrounds, where children build, dig, create and generally take control of their own affairs, are a thing of the past. Tales from the Playground<\/em> provides a rich resource for practitioners, parents and researchers who want to know more about the possibilities that the adventure playground concept offers for increasing children\u2019s freedom. From small scale free play projects in Shanghai to an internationally renowned Texan school, and a former goat farm in France to pop-up projects at festivals across the UK, these \u2018tales\u2019 challenge the adult world to consider how the adult imagination can either hem children in – or set them free.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The cover is from an original painting by Donne James Buck, who became the first full time playleader at Bandley Hill Adventure Playground in Stevenage (UK) in 1967. The foreword is written by Donne\u2019s brother, Graeme Buck. The book also includes an introduction by Angus Gorrie, who originally came up with the idea of uniting international adventure playgrounds in one illustrated volume.<\/p>\n

Tales from the Playground – playwork stories from contemporary adventure playgrounds –<\/em><\/strong> 219 printed pages, 93 colour photos.<\/em><\/p>\n

January sale – use code 2610 for 10% off (offer ends 31st January)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tales from the Playground – playwork stories from contemporary adventure playgrounds <\/em><\/strong>is a unique collection of stories from twelve adventure playgrounds around the world. The book provides a rich resource for practitioners, parents and researchers who want to know more about the possibilities that the adventure playground concept offers for increasing children\u2019s freedom.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":11644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[15,20],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-11581","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-all-publications","7":"product_cat-our-other-publications","9":"first","10":"instock","11":"shipping-taxable","12":"purchasable","13":"product-type-simple"},"yoast_head":"\nTales from the Playground - playwork stories from contemporary adventure playgrounds - Common Threads<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A unique collection of stories about adventure playgrounds around the world, including Australia, China, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, UK and USA.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/commonthreads.org.uk\/index.php\/product\/tales-from-the-playground-playwork-stories-from-contemporary-adventure-playgrounds\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tales from the Playground - 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