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Handcrafted Playgrounds

The book Handcrafted Playgrounds – Designs You Can Build Yourself was written by M. Paul Friedberg, one of America’s leading designers and landscape architects. It was published in 1975 by Vintage Books, a division of Random House. The book is a sketchbook of designs based on the premises that anyone can build a playground and that the actual process of the building can be as important as the finished product.

Hasbro Inc

The Hassenfeld brothers, Henry, Hilal, and Herman, as recent Polish emigrants in Providence, Rhode Island, began selling cloth leftovers in 1923. Three years later they founded Hassenfeld Brothers, Inc. with eight family members to manufacture pencil box covers from these cloth leftovers. By 1929, under Henry's direction, they employed 150 in the manufacture and sale of pencil boxes and cloth zipper pouches containing school supplies.

Head Injury Criteria

Head Injury Criteria is a measurement of the time duration of head deceleration during impact. A mathematical formula is used to derive a value known as Head Injury Criteria or HIC. The value of HIC with regard to the impact on a playground surface may not be more than 1000.1

1. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) publication 325-97, “Handbook for Public Playground Safety,” Section 4.1, pp. 3-4.

Head Start Body Start

Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play (HSBS) is dedicated to promoting physical activity, outdoor play, and healthy lifestyles for young children and their families. Funded by the Office of Head Start, HSBS is a joint project of the American Association of Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR) and the National Association of Sport and Physical Education (NASPE).1 The AAPAR executive director Mariah Burton Nelson stated, “Through this partnership, almost a million children will receive not only a head start, but a body start, not only academic preparation but physical preparation.”2

1. Almeras, Bethe. Email to Playground Professionals. 23 Feb. 2011.
2. Bossenmeyer, Melinda.

Health

The World Health Organization has defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”1 Health has many determining factors, such as social, economic, and physical environment as well as the person’s individual characteristics and behaviors. Where a person lives, the state of the environment, genetics, income and educational levels, and relationships with friends and family all impact health.2

1. “WHO definition of Health.” World Health Organization. < http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/ > 1 Oct. 2010.
2. “The determinants of health.” World Health Organization. < http://www.who.int/hia/evidence/doh/en/ > 1 Oct. 2010.

Health-E-tips Inc

Health-E-tips Inc. is dedicated to reducing obesity and disease in the young and the old through “bite-sized” tools that make healthy choices a daily habit. Believing that prevention is the best cure, the company promotes the philosophy that the key to healthy living is good nutrition, daily activity, and a knowledge of health issues.1 Additionally they advocate a balanced and moderate approach that encourages patience, recognizing that “neither your mind nor your body is designed to change overnight.”2

1. “Products and Programs.” Health-E-tips. < http://healthetips.com/upload/forms/form_12797492163.pdf > 8 Dec. 2011.
2. “Company.” Health-E-tips. < http://healthetips.com/company.php > 8 Dec. 2011.

Healthy Kids Challenge

Healthy Kids Challenge (HKC) supports schools and communities in educating kids and their families to “Eat, Move, and Enjoy a Healthy Balance.”1 Led by registered, licensed dietitians, this nonprofit organization utilizes school curriculum, workshops, presentations, events, and distance assistance tools, such as their website and newsletters. Their focus is on making healthy eating and active play practices become attractive, simple, and fun for kids.2

1. “How HKC Works to Help Kids.” Healthy Kids Challenge. < http://www.healthykidschallenge.com/about-us/how-hkc-works > 27 Oct. 2011.
2. “What is Healthy Kids Challenge.” Healthy Kids Challenge. < http://www.healthykidschallenge.com/about-us/what-healthy-kids-challenge > 27 Oct. 2011.

Healthy Parks Healthy People US

Healthy Parks Healthy People US is a National Park Service initiative that is a “holistic approach to promoting the health and well-being of people and the sustainability of the planet.”1 The initiative supports the major health roles that national, state, and local parks play in reducing our society's incidents of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Healthy Parks Healthy People US also seeks to partner with business innovators, healthcare leaders, scientists, foundations, and advocacy organizations to achieve the reintegration of human, environmental, and ecological health.

1. “Welcome.” Healthy Parks Healthy People US. < http://www.nps.gov/public_health/hp/hphp.htm > 15 Nov. 2011.

Heart Rate

The heart rate is the number of rhythmic contractions, beats per minute (bpm), of the heart. This rate is used as a measure of cardiac activity. The normal heart rate should be strong and regular without any missed beats.1 Measuring heart rate is an effective way to determine the overall fitness of a person as well as the presence of any medical concerns.

1. “Fast Heart Rate.” Healthline. < http://www.healthline.com/hlc/fast-heart-rate > 29 Sep. 2010.

Heath, Robert

Robert Heath was born in England, educated in Scotland, and worked in Australia before coming to the United States in 1968. While working as a commentator for equestrian events in the United Kingdom, Robert noticed how the shredded wood fiber in the training tracks and in the breeding sheds was “quiet and soft.”1 He decided to bring the idea to the United States.

Robert first refined the manufacturing process and in 1979 began developing the market for his Fibar Engineered Wood Fiber. Through his company, Fibar, Inc., Robert surfaced 60 training tracks over the next six years.

1. Merrill, Lynn. “Getting into the Grind: Innovations in Wood Processing.” WasteAge. < http://wasteage.com/mag/waste_getting_grind_innovations/ > 1 Sep. 1998.

Henderson Recreation Equipment

Nearly 40 years ago, Gordon C. Henderson founded the Henderson Recreation Equipment, Ltd. in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. Initially offering a steel square post playground called PlaySteel, the company has expanded to offer a PlaySteel line, a PlayWood line, a PlayTots line, Mighty Shades, Site Amenities, and Freestanding Play components, including the Geodes and the Orbis.1

The PlaySteel² is the updated original playground design with more component choices but the same 4” square 11 gauge Allied Flo-Coat galvanized steel-capped posts. The 46 ½” 12-gauge decks and components are bolted directly with their Bolt-N-Go connection system.

1. Henderson Recreation Equipment. < http://www.henderson-recreation.com/playgrounds.asp > 17 Sep. 2010.

Hendy, Teri

Teresa (Teri) Hendy earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Art and a Teacher's Certificate from Miami University in 1974. For the next four years she taught Art and Industrial Arts for grades K-8 in the Reading Community Schools of Reading, Ohio. This strong background in child development, education, and fine art has enhanced her ability to design outdoor children's learning environments in the playground industry.

Starting in 1983, Teri began consulting in the playground industry on a part time basis. In 1988 she started Site Masters Inc, a business owned by women based in Cincinnati, Ohio. As president and owner, Teri has been an active consultant on design and safety issues for schools, parks, and the courts for the past 20 years.

Heseltine, Peter

Peter Heseltine is a playground health and safety consultant and playground industry author in the United Kingdom. He began as a Playworker and a Community Play Development Officer for local government. From there he became a Regional Play Adviser for a national charity and then the editor of UK's first play magazine, Play Times.1

1. “CV – Peter Heseltine.” Private correspondence to Playground Professionals. 9 Sep. 2011.

Hidden Dangers on the Playground

Playgrounds are intended to be fun, safe places to take children to visit and play. The National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI), a program developed under the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), has identified twelve of the leading causes of injury on playgrounds known as “The Dirty Dozen.” These dangers include improper protective surfacing, inadequate use zones, and protrusion, entanglement, and entrapment hazards to name a few.1

1. The Dirty Dozen: Are they hiding in your child’s playground? Arlington, Virginia. National Recreation and Park Association.

Hill, Patty Smith

Patty Smith Hill (1868-1946) was a leader in the Kindergarten movement and an advocate of the value of free play in the education of young children. Although the theory and methods of Friedrich Froebel were accepted in most kindergartens at the time, Hill studied the work of other leading educators, such as G. Stanley Hall, John Dewey, and Francis W. Parker, and challenged the practice of following Froebel’s methods explicitly. Her work established the foundation for the modern kindergarten in America today.

Hirsh-Pasek, Kathy

Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek believes the trend toward replacing play time for children with academic time is a national crisis. She declares, “The science is clear.” Play reduces stress, facilitates social development, improves working memory, develops self-control, and increases attention spans. Concerning play time, she has concluded that “failing to preserve it in the lives of children could be a disaster.”1

1. Barlett, Tom. “The Case for Play.” The Chronicle Review. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Feb. 20, 2011. < http://chronicle.com/article/The-Case-for-Play/126382/ > 19 Oct. 2011.

Hogan, Paul

Paul Hogan, as a young man, served in the Massachusetts State Guard, the US Merchant Marines, and finally two years in the 11th Airborne Division. After military life, he began civilian life as a carpenter and eventually became partner in Hogan & Lynch Construction Company, Inc. in 1956. They specialized in small and complicated military contracts. In 1958, he volunteered at his children's nursery school and was assigned the playground, which he found decrepit and unsafe. This began Paul's interest in designing, constructing, and improving playgrounds.

Home Safety Council

As a national non-profit organization, the Home Safety Council (HSC) is dedicated to preventing home-related injuries through educating the public. The Home Safety Council is a “leading source for home safety tips, checklists and information about home fire safety, falls prevention, poison prevention, water safety, child safety, disaster preparedness as well as many other home safety topics.”1 HSC utilizes innovative website technology, educational resources for teachers, policy makers, and corporations, partnerships with companies, and a network of volunteers to accomplish its goals.

1. “Home Safety Council.” Home Safety Council. < http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/index.asp > 31 Jan. 2011.

Hopscotch

The children’s game of hopscotch has been a popular playground activity for years. With the basic idea of not treading on lines, variations of the game are played around the world. The English name refers to hopping over the “scotch,” which is a line or scratch in the ground. Lines are drawn in a variety of patterns of squares for the children to hop in with a particular order determined.1

1. “Hopscotch.” Britannica Online Encyclopedia. < http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/271606/hopscotch > 26 May 2011.

Huber, Rolf

After extensive training through such polyurethane companies as Berleburger Shaumstoffwerk GmbH (BSW), the Poligras division of J.F. Adolf AG, and the Sportsbau Technique AG, Rolf Huber developed the Elastocrete Mats for athletic and playground surfaces in 1981. This was accomplished as a part of Sportsbau Canada Limited.

Benefiting from this training, beginning in 1984 Rolf and his team invented the Toro-Tan athletic and play systems, the Champ-Track running track system, and the Champ-Floor gymnasium system. These products evolved into the Everplay poured-in-place surfacing system, the Everplay Mat system, and the Champ-Track polyurethane systems for water play.1

1. Huber, Rolf. Email to Playground Professionals. 21 Jan. 2011.

Huizinga, Johan

Johan Huizinga was a Dutch historian who lived from 1872 to 1945. His book, Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play Element in Culture, published in 1938, suggested the instinct for play as the central element in human culture and examined the role of play in law, war, science, poetry, philosophy, and art. He saw all human activities as playing where “…the great instinctive forces of civilized life have their origin: law and order, commerce and profit, craft and art, poetry, wisdom and science. All are rooted in the primaeval soil of play.”1

1. Liukkonen, Petri. “Johan Huizinga (1872-1945).” Pegasos. < http://kirjasto.sci.fi/huizin.htm > 6 Oct. 2011.

Hula Hoop

The hoop has been a popular children’s toy for thousands of years, and the introduction of the Hula Hoop in 1958 by the Wham-O toy company has been documented by sociologists as one of the biggest fads ever to take hold in America and one of the most significant events of the time.1 Because of its enduring popularity, the Hula Hoop was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1999.2

1. Dutta, Ratnashri. “Hula Hoop History.” Buzzle.com. < http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hula-hoop-history.html > 11 Nov. 2011.
2. “Hula Hoop. Inducted 1999.” National Toy Hall of Fame. < http://www.toyhalloffame.org/toys/hula-hoop > 21 Nov. 2011.

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