tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post4955916860476570352..comments2024-03-18T14:05:01.415-04:00Comments on Heroes, Heroines, and History: Fun-Filled Danger of the Giant StrideDebbie Lynne Costellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16381517812227326616noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-2749771706855340712022-05-20T15:58:54.021-04:002022-05-20T15:58:54.021-04:00Sounds like a great memory. Thanks for sharing. :)...Sounds like a great memory. Thanks for sharing. :)Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-80929163127178642872022-05-06T16:24:42.324-04:002022-05-06T16:24:42.324-04:00We had one of those on our playground in the early...We had one of those on our playground in the early to mid sixties, too. We also did the "wrap around" which were TOTALLY dangerous. I saw more than one child fly off and at the least had the wind knocked out of them. I don't remember any serious injuries, but there sure could have been. I seem to remember that ours was really big (like with 12-16 chains) but it could have been because I was a child and it just seemed big. We did have to "take turns" because kids were waiting in line to ride! Piggybabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09081651296451744913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-36699236615364741452022-03-06T15:55:14.157-05:002022-03-06T15:55:14.157-05:00My favorite thing to do at recess when I was in 3r...My favorite thing to do at recess when I was in 3rd grade in Wellsboro PAAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02653368035550223983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-33725688283496064282022-02-21T12:54:06.399-05:002022-02-21T12:54:06.399-05:00On my, Nancy. I guess so, eh. However, I think rid...On my, Nancy. I guess so, eh. However, I think riding the giant stride that way is a wee bit too exciting for me, considering the images that are swinging through my mind at the moment. Ha!<br />Thanks so much for sharing,<br />Anita.Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-25999163870077208252022-02-21T12:51:18.233-05:002022-02-21T12:51:18.233-05:00Well that certainly doesn't find like fun! It&...Well that certainly doesn't find like fun! It's probably one of the reasons it isn't found on modern playgrounds. <br />Thanks for sharing.<br />Anita.<br />Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-21213868066485593662022-02-09T19:48:57.898-05:002022-02-09T19:48:57.898-05:00We had one with ten chains on the school playgroun...We had one with ten chains on the school playground.....our favorite thing was for nine kids to stand close to the pole while the tenth kid walked out and wound her chain around all of the others. when everybody started to run, person number ten would be flung out at least 45 degrees from center. Best physics lesson ever!!!!NancyAltainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10133470212770294173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-32593233101934782762022-02-09T15:12:31.087-05:002022-02-09T15:12:31.087-05:00What a delightful comment! Thanks so much for shar...What a delightful comment! Thanks so much for sharing your memories which really made me laugh out loud and then I had to explain to hubby why I was laughing. :D<br />Much appreciated,<br />Anita.Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-37144503532196664702022-01-21T03:20:11.029-05:002022-01-21T03:20:11.029-05:00I'm born in 1988 and they were in our school y...I'm born in 1988 and they were in our school yards untill mid 1990s,tbey were the BEST PLAYGROUND TOY EVER. But they were incredibly dangerous, it wasn't pep flying off that was the issue (altho that I think happened too) it was when the momentum was thrown off and the ropes started dipping into the middle pole and then back out over and over because when that happened alot of pep couldn't get off without getting injured so thed stay on & break their arms via colliding into the middle pole We found love in a hopeless placehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08720348098536208165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-14392869549974567592021-12-01T21:49:04.196-05:002021-12-01T21:49:04.196-05:00I went to school in a small community in Washingto...I went to school in a small community in Washington State on the east side named Greenbluff. At the Greenbluff elementary school we had a Giant Stride...I have Such Wonderful and Awesome memories of this play ground equipment..was it dangerous..Yes. was it a Hell of alot of Fun..Hell yes..Such such Fond Memories...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13971881629508457791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-39735049751477406242021-09-16T11:38:45.883-04:002021-09-16T11:38:45.883-04:00Well then, I'm very glad I posted about it bec...Well then, I'm very glad I posted about it because I'm a firm believer in passing history on to the next generations. It's so much more personal to hear it from our elders when we can hear and see the excitement as they describe things and people. Those are wonderful memories.<br /><br />Thanks so much for sharing. :)Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-14475916335407236202021-09-16T01:24:11.404-04:002021-09-16T01:24:11.404-04:00We had one growing up in our park in Le Sueur, MN....We had one growing up in our park in Le Sueur, MN. We would play a game where everyone grabbed a line, I believe ours had 8, and went to the center pole. One designated kid would do the fly out while the rest kept it going as fast as they could. There was only one broken arm and it came down. Good memories! I never knew what it was called until tonight when I researched old playground equipment. I was telling my son stories of "the olden days".<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17882563980649163273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-3370247359240177102021-09-16T01:22:23.523-04:002021-09-16T01:22:23.523-04:00We had one growing up in our park in Le Sueur, MN....We had one growing up in our park in Le Sueur, MN. We would play a game where everyone grabbed a line, I believe ours had 8, and went to the center pole. One designated kid would do the fly out while the rest kept it going as fast as they could. There was only one broken arm and it came down. Good memories and I never knew what it was called until tonight when I researched old playground equipment. I was telling my son stories of "the olden days".<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17882563980649163273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-19369937334964653342021-04-01T11:13:59.610-04:002021-04-01T11:13:59.610-04:00Wow, Julieplaid, things sure have changed. You mus...Wow, Julieplaid, things sure have changed. You must have REALLY liked that apparatus if you had blisters from hanging on. :)<br /><br />Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-62155175016896455032021-03-30T19:02:35.270-04:002021-03-30T19:02:35.270-04:00our school playground in Oklahoma still had this i... our school playground in Oklahoma still had this in the 1970s and 80s. I loved it! Underneath was all rocks and cement, but I don't remember anyone getting hurt, mostly just blisters from hanging on it all the timeJulieplaidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01141348381753713140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-37669134458128318072021-03-30T09:49:55.755-04:002021-03-30T09:49:55.755-04:00I fell off one of these when I was 6 years old. Fl...I fell off one of these when I was 6 years old. Flying so high. I hit the ground. Knocked the breath out of me. Thought I was going to die. Horrible play ground equipment. Justmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17521612961570568164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-1582622966466306982021-03-16T12:30:23.823-04:002021-03-16T12:30:23.823-04:00Cool photos, Seth. Yes, your Giant Stride renditio...Cool photos, Seth. Yes, your Giant Stride rendition looks great, but so does that railroad thing you've got going! I'm a sucker for trains and that caught my eye right away. But back to the swing, your instagram pics show the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, eh. No wonder your kids like it. :)<br /><br />I appreciate you sharing your creation and social media photos. May all of your family play safe. Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-89407367252378025672021-03-16T11:59:57.271-04:002021-03-16T11:59:57.271-04:00Hello, Heidi. Somehow I missed your wonderful comm...Hello, Heidi. Somehow I missed your wonderful comment before and yet I'm so glad you shared your international experience with the Giant Stride-type swing. I assume you needed very strong arms for the triangles as I can imagine myself doing the 'arm splits' while trying to keep control of my swinging body. Oh, what an image I would have made. It would certainly add another element of danger to the playground.<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing. :) Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-86381813122194268972021-03-14T18:11:11.303-04:002021-03-14T18:11:11.303-04:00Love your post and pictures! I built one for my ki...Love your post and pictures! I built one for my kids last year. I had never seen or heard of them before and the design and construction was rather organic. I had tied a piece of line to pole in our front yard in order for it to dry before stowing it. The steel pole was originally for an awning. My 7 year old started swinging on the rope and letting it wrap up around the pole. After seeing her do this for a while i decided it would be cool to weld an old trailer axle to the top of the pole. Instant fun and a few weeks later I built a taller and sturdier version in the back yard. <br /><br />I didnt know what to call it so i searched online and found out that this was not my invention! Your article was very helpful and i love the old art and photos. <br /><br />Here is a link to my instagram account where i have some videos of the kids swinging.<br /><br />https://www.instagram.com/seth_birdd/<br /><br />Thank you!<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09145531707140947627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-3322200569438363072021-01-16T10:57:32.798-05:002021-01-16T10:57:32.798-05:00Jace, I was so busy envisioning your memory that I...Jace, I was so busy envisioning your memory that I forgot thank you for sharing it with us. I'm really glad you did. :)Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-60686459126365315702021-01-16T10:55:04.229-05:002021-01-16T10:55:04.229-05:00Hello, Rettger family. It sounds like you have fon...Hello, Rettger family. It sounds like you have fond memories of that time. Your comment reminds me of the saying that you can't really appreciate something that comes too easy. Or something like that. Thanks so much for sharing. :)Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-52261547757473500432021-01-16T10:51:45.386-05:002021-01-16T10:51:45.386-05:00Oh my, Jace, sounds like something you'd see o...Oh my, Jace, sounds like something you'd see on extreme sports. I can see where the most adventurous kids would have something to give them a thrill right at school. Today's safe school playgrounds still allow falls and broken bones, but it seems the thrill-seekers seek out their own fun in dangerous places and often get hurt away from help and supervision. I really like the places that teach kids how to play and fall safely, yet give them a chance to test their agility at the same time.Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-65893083059058996682021-01-13T00:00:32.684-05:002021-01-13T00:00:32.684-05:00There was one on my school playground in the 60’s ...There was one on my school playground in the 60’s in Farwell, Michigan. I remember that we called it “The Giants”. I remember having a hard time reaching the handle, but also it being super fun. I remember long lines of kids waiting their turn.Rettger familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03223469861803141097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-61512590638989895672021-01-09T04:38:09.318-05:002021-01-09T04:38:09.318-05:00At my grade school in the 60's we had a two te...At my grade school in the 60's we had a two teared giant stride. It was on an asphalt slab next to an old stone building which were both waiting to give some playground whirling dervish a broken bone or two. When the teachers weren't looking we would cross the chains over each other to go as high and fast as possible. Nobody ever fell because we were all having too much fun!! If you got to close while others were flying around, you would have been knocked out and had a permanent shoe print on your noggin. It was playground danger on steroids and we loved it!!!Jacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08408831954705770538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-4994784107868953112020-12-07T15:46:38.058-05:002020-12-07T15:46:38.058-05:00Enjoyed your blog! Something similar to the Giant...Enjoyed your blog! Something similar to the Giant Stride was my all time favorite recess pastime. The principle was exactly the same only the ends to hold on to were metal triangles and there were only 4 chains hanging down. I was always first out at recess and couldn't wait for a fourth person to show up so that we could start running and flying. This was in the early 1960's at 12,000 feet in the middle of Peru at an American School organized by the Cerro de Pasco Mining Corp. where my father was employed. Most fun ever!Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06277065607420471079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4271375082145370896.post-90994474996135595832020-11-10T13:27:06.882-05:002020-11-10T13:27:06.882-05:00Ouch! Oh my, so sorry you were exposed to loose ch...Ouch! Oh my, so sorry you were exposed to loose chains. Not a great way to enjoy play. Oh, and I hear you on the tetherball. Moving balls that I couldn't control were a problem for me. I could crack the bat a fair bit and send a ball flying, but was no good as a catcher as I couldn't seem to track the ball. However, I had no problem tracking a butterfly. :D<br />Put me on a dodgeball or volleyball team though, and I was down for the count.<br /><br />So funny that you talk about the hazards of playing on the giant stride and tether ball, and yet end on a positive note about dangerous stunts that led to good memories. I love that! <br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing with us. :)Anita Mae Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16618699900826731377noreply@blogger.com