Hi @eco-alex
before I read your line about not having kids I was asking myself "does the author actually have kids?). Things like overbearing safety in playgrounds are about protecting local authorities from litigation, thats it, end of. Its the litigation culture that has been imported from the USA that's scaring everybody into a fear of accidents etc.
In the real world, kids are constantly taking risks, climbing trees, swimming in rivers and whatever else, well they are in my experience anyway.
Of course I can't speak for everyone!