A very interesting study about playgrounds, rules...and bullying...or not.

A lot of us think we've gone too far protecting kids--that they are wrapped in cotton wool, and they are not allowed to take the minor risks that help them learn how to gauge risk. That a lot of kids are living in an environment that is too structured. (And we forget that we used to accuse the Japanese and Chinese of having children who were too structured. They created economic empires with those citizens, but Americans were the ones creating new things for those empires to exploit. Now Japanese young people flirt with creativity, and many Western students are deprived of it.)

Down in New Zealand, a research study on playgrounds and playground behavior has led to startling results. One of the schools has ditched the playground rules book--and they're happy they did so.

"Chaos may reign at Swanson Primary School with children climbing trees, riding skateboards and playing bullrush during playtime, but surprisingly the students don't cause bedlam, the principal says.

The school is actually seeing a drop in bullying, serious injuries and vandalism, while concentration levels in class are increasing."