PlayGroundology

The 2026 edition of the World Cup is building to a crescendo.

Kids rule the roost at this extraordinary play party.

The first time I saw kids in action with loose parts was just a little more that 10 years ago on Glasgow Green in Scotland.

We had so much fun creating reels as part of our socials for our International Day of Play celebrations in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia that we thought we’d share them here too.

We had so much fun creating socials for our International Day of Play celebrations in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia that we thought we’d share them here too.

On June 6, come and celebrate the UN International Day of Play at Ferry Terminal Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Winter ships out, Jubilee Park, Bridgetown, Nova Scotia – 2013 – PlaySnaps number 45 Winter ships out, Jubilee Park, Bridgetown, Nova Scotia – 2013 Last week, I thought winter shipped out.

Fort Beauséjour – A great stay, Aulac, New Brunswick – 2016, PlaySnaps number 44 Fort Beauséjour – A great stay, Aulac, New Brunswick I didn’t think to ask the site interpreters at Fort Beauséjour about the purpose of the mirror image ‘L’ shapes.

Shredding the White Stuff, Brightwood Golf and Country Club, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia – 2023, PlaySnaps number 43.

Backyard Matrix – Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia – 2020 – PlaySnaps number 42.

This is a quick treasure from many years back when I was fortunate enough to take 9 months in parental leave.

Speedsters in the Shadow of the Eiffel Tower – Paris, France – 1971 – PlaySnaps number 41 Speedsters in the Shadow of the Eiffel Tower – Paris, France – 1971 The speedsters did their thing immediately opposite the Eiffel Tower not quite in its shadow.

Dirt, Glorious, Dirt – Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia – 2010 – PlaySnaps number 40 Dirt, Glorious, Dirt – Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia What is it with dirt and its semi-liquid cousin, mud?

Pink Elephant, Dundas Street West, Toronto, Canada – 2012 – PlaySnaps number 39 Pink Elephant, Dundas Street West, Toronto, Canada – 2012 These four young lads are settling in atop the only pink elephant I’ve ever seen anywhere, except in animated cartoon…

Old Friends – Parc Bibeau, Sorel, Quebec – 2016 – PlaySnaps number 38 Old Friends – Parc Bibeau, Sorel, Quebec – 2016 There are plenty of old friends in Parc Bibeau.

Footloose and Fancy Free – Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2009 – PlaySnaps number 37 Footloose and Fancy Free – Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2009 Beyond permission, children don’t need much encouragement to play.

Naturally Green – Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia, Canada – 2013 – PlaySnaps number 36 Naturally Green – Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia, Canada – 2013 Increasingly, across the planet, we’re urban dwellers.

Look At Me – Dartmouth Common, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia – 2014 – PlaySnaps Number 35 Look At Me – Dartmouth Common, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia – 2014 The Common’s green expanses and steep slopes are a local landmark.

A Sky So Big, Rainbow Haven Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada – 2010 – PlaySnaps number 34 A Sky So Big, Rainbow Haven Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada – 2010 Even though it’s cool for a July afternnoon there is a small cluster of optimists spread out on towels and lo…

A Sandpit Like No Other – Dufferin Grove Park, Toronto, Ontario – 2016 – PlaySnaps number 33 A Sandpit Like No Other – Dufferin Grove Park, Toronto – 2016 The sandpit is a sight to behold, a space that kids do not want to leave.

I stumbled across this video shortly before Christmas.

Just Boxes – 5th floor boardroom, Halifax, Nova Scotia – 2014 – PlaySnaps number 32.

The Dragon of Tighnabruaich, Argyll and Bute, Scotland – 2014 – PlaySnaps number 31.

April Seashore, Rainbow Haven Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada – 2009 – PlaySnaps number 30 April Seashore, Rainbow Haven Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada – 2009 The spring sand is darker, denser but beach all the same regardless of the air temperature.

On Tour – Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2011 – PlaySnaps number 29 On Tour – Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2011 – PlaySnaps number 28 For the better part of three years between 2009 -12, the kids and I toured playgrounds in our home territory of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Driftwood Catamaran – Green Point, Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada – 2017 – PlaySnaps number 28.

Crocodile Rocks – Millport, Isle of Cumbrae, Scotland – 1968 – PlaySnaps number 27.

All In a Day’s Play, Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, Canada – 2019 – PlaySnaps number 26.

Young at Heart, South Common, Halifax, Canada – 2017 Young at Heart, South Common, Halifax, Canada – 2017 – photo by Alexa Cude @seriouslyalexa The youthful looking octogenerian in this snap is my dad, Bob.

Number 24 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

Number 23 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

Number 22 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

Number 21 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

Number 20 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

Number 19 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

Number 18 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

Number 17 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

Number 16 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

Number 15 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

Happiness is a new trike – Toronto, Canada – 1960 – PlaySnaps number 14 Happiness is a new trike – Toronto, Canada – 1960 Here I am in this PlaySnaps cameo, pleased as punch to be taking my new trike for an indoor spin.

Number 13 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

Number 12 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

Number 11 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

Number 10 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y All quiet on the early morning front – Santa Ana, San Jose, Costa Rica – 2025 This snap was taken early on our last morning in Costa Rica.

This is #9 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

This is #8 in the ‘PlaySnaps’ series, photos about, well p-l-a-y.

This is #7 in the PlaySnaps series.

This is #6 in the PlaySnaps series.

Earlier this week, The Guardian ran a photo story on ITV’s contributions to broadcast television.

This is #5 in the PlaySnaps series.