Play used to help us learn the essential life skills necessary for survival later in life. Pretty much all animals play when they’re young to learn what can and can’t be done in their environment. Humans are the same. But it seems that the natural freeform play has been cut out of this society. This can be explained by factors like industrialization and paranoia.

When people started rapidly building up cities throughout the world, efficiency and costs were put over the well being of the people. The lack of care for the quality of life of the inhabitants of cities can be seen during the industrial revolution where people were living in slums. The slums were cramped and unsanitary. Furthermore, it was around this time when child labor became popular to boost rapid growth and feed families. Kids were forced to work in factories and coal mines starting as early as the age of four for up to sixteen hours a day. It is hard to imagine that kids were able to play like how previous generations had been able to. 

However, this doesn’t account for the almost complete lack of freeform play today. Most of it has been credited to paranoia. Parents don’t want to let their children outside anymore. They don’t think the environment is safe enough which creates a chain reaction since the less kids outside, the less safe it seems. Parents can also turn to electronics to entertain their children instead. The term “i-pad kid” has been coined and specifically describes the kids who are glued to their i-pad no matter the situation. They lack social skills and emotional intelligence. Many are concerned about what they will turn into when they grow up into adults. 

Isamu Noguchi formulated the idea of Play Mountain and other similar structures because he saw the importance of play in children’s lives. Noguchi wanted to implement his playgrounds into the city of New York but they rejected him, thinking that his ideas were ridiculous compared to the much cheaper and predictable playgrounds that already existed. His structures and playgrounds evoke thought in whoever is looking at them. It is not the simple slide and swing set that tells you what it wants you to do. Instead Noguchi’s playground makes you come up with your own way of play.