4 ms·
In the UK, what the article keeps calling "monkey bars" we call a "climbing frame" (a "jungle gym" in the USA). What we call "monkey bars" are specifically the
by supermatt 4y ago
In the UK, what the article keeps calling "monkey bars" we call a "climbing frame" (a "jungle gym" in the USA). What we call "monkey bars" are specifically the horizontal ladder you traverse by swinging and hanging from arm to arm.
Wikipedia suggests that it is an australian thing to call the whole frame monkey bars, yet I understood the smithsonian is a US institution?
- emmelaich 4y agoDefinitely an Australian thing. They used to be everywhere. RIP.
- RcouF1uZ4gsC 4y agoGrew up in the USA. I agree with your definition of monkey bars as the horizontal ladder you traverse using your hands to grip and swing to the next.
- Steltek 4y agoSame (New England, if US regions matter). Also, I haven't seen a new piece of classical metal jungle gym installed in a while. New climbing structures here are either geodesic rope contraptions or elaborate monkey bars. I think it's following the trend of aggressive risk reduction in playgrounds as the ropes probably absorb falls better.
- germinalphrase 4y agoOn new-ish playgrounds, the “ropes” are a sheathed in fiber/nylon, but there is typically steel cable in the center to reduce stretching (stretching being a common safety issue for various reasons). I learned this after making a poorly considered leap playing with my son and scraping the ever living hell out of my shins/causing a bone bruise. The sheath also increases grip relative to (painted) steel bars.
- todd8 4y agoI was in elementary school in Detroit (a city in the US) during the 1950's and the only name I ever heard used for that ubiquitous playground device was "monkey bars". I really enjoyed them as a kid.
- op00to 4y agoNorth east US. We called the horizontal ladder monkey bars, and the bigger metal climbing apparatus jungle gyms.
- koheripbal 4y agoSame in Canada