The unconventional playgrounds emboldening children to take more risks

This inner Sydney park has no slippery dips, swings or see-saws. Instead, these youngsters are peering down plastic tubes, whacking foam pool noodles, bashing nails into pieces of wood, squirming through dirty car tyres, and clambering over other household detritus resembling a council rubbish pick-up pile. The chaotic set-up mimics a growing trend in “junkyard” or adventure playgrounds, which use scrap materials to encourage children to play freely, solve problems, come up with ideas and take risks.