That damn “fence”

Looking past the boundaries of Time & Death

Remember when… really remember when you were a child…

Hanging out in a schoolyard, or general playground?

You were on the monkey bars, playing tether ball, nose deep in the grimy sandbox. You, honestly, didn’t give a conscious crap about what others were feeling.

Oh sure, your 4 to 7 year old self intuitively knew when somebody was odd, off, or different. But, still, you went about your play; your exploration, your discovery.

There may or may not have been a parental figure hovering around you.

If there was one or two close by, you probably reined in your rebel-like rowdiness a bit; your frenetic self.

If there wasn’t one in ear shot, well hell… you let yourself loose.

But, when do you think you were unconsciously feeling most safe?

Well, apparently published academic research somewhere (didn’t search for it) figured out that when a fence was around a playground (whether conscious of it or not), it impacted the behavior of us young whippersnappers.

Fence = feeling safe.

No Fence = looking for adult reassurance.

Kids, having imposed and reasonable boundaries, is one thing.