Natural Playspace Design

The Importance The Importance of Naturalistic of Naturalistic

Playspace Playspace DesignDesign

Tess Michaels – Tessa Rose Playspace and Landscape Design

0416 565297tess@tessaroselandscapes.com.auwww.tessaroselandscapes.com.au

The Relationship Between Children and

Nature Children feel connected to nature – it is a constant in their lives. The earlier a child develops a “bond” with the natural world, the more likely that child will feel trust and comfort in nature versus fear and dread.“Outdoor play experiences can be as effective as indoor play in stimulating young children’s development”. (Henniger, 1993)


Nature

As young children spend less and less of their lives in natural surroundings, their senses narrow, physiologically and psychologically, and this reduces the richness of human experience.


Nature

Howard Gardner – Theory of Multiple Intelligences8th Intelligence – Naturalistic Intelligence – deals with sensing patterns and making connections to elements in nature

Children with natural intelligence: - Have keen sensory skills including sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch Readily use heightened sensory skills to notice and categorize things from the natural world Like to be outside, or like outside activities like gardening, nature walks, etc, geared towards observing nature


Nature Easily notice patterns in their surroundings - likes, dislikes, similarities, anomalies Are interested in and care about

animals or plants Notice things in the environment others often miss Create, keep or have collections about natural objects/environments Are very interested in TV shows, videos, books or objects from or about nature, science and animals


Nature Show heightened concern and awareness for the envaironment and/or endangered specie Easily learn characteristics, names, categorisations and data about objects or species found in the natural world

(Gardner, 2003)

Without natural play and playspaces this important intelligence will be lost.

How did you used to play as a child?

What sorts of things did you do?

Do you think children play differently now and why?

Why Children Need Nature

Direct exposure to nature is essential for physical and emotional health Proximity to views of and daily exposure to natural settings increases children’s ability to focus, increasing attention span and enhancing cognitive skills, fostering brain development Multisensory experiences in nature help to build “the cognitive constructs necessary for sustained intellectual development”

Why Children Need Nature Nature is important to children’s

development. Play in nature is especially important for developing capacities for creaativity, problem solving and intellectual

development Play in nature increases children’s self esteem and self worth Provides children with a

level of resistance to negative stress and depression – natural playspaces allow children to have opportunities to remove themselves from everyday pressures


Children are able to experience natural lifecycles, growth and decay. They begin to understand natural systems and see that nature is a uniquely regenerative process Creative play is increased – natural spaces and materials stimulate children’s limitless imaginations and serve as the medium of inventiveness and creativity observable in almost any group of children playing in a natural environment and/or playspace


Children develop a bond with the natural world that can form a foundation for environmental stewardship – important for the future of the environment Natural playspaces and green space offers social interaction and prompts social support Children who spend more

time playing in natural playspaces have more friends – the deepest friendships develop from shared experiences particularly in environments in which all the senses are enlivened


Free play in nature and a natural playspace allows individual children to test themselves by interacting with the environment and activating their potential Children with exposure to nature may be more likely to develop the psychological survival skills that will help them detect real danger. Play in nature may instil instinctual confidence Nature introduces children to the idea – to the knowing that they are not alone in this world and that realities and dimensions exist alongside their own


ADD and ADHDStudies show that nature may be useful as a therapy used with or when appropriate even replacing medications or behavioural therapies.

Symptoms of ADD and ADHD may include: Restlessness Difficulty paying attention, listening, following directions and focusing on tasks Aggression, being antisocial Levels of academic failure


Approximately 90% of children on medications in the United States are boys!

A 2003 survey, published in “Psychiatric Services”, found that the rate at which American children are prescribed antidepressants almost doubled in five years - the steepest increase – 66% was among pre-schoolers.

Researchers pointed out that outdoor play and nature experience have proven beneficial

for cognitive functioning, reduction in symptoms of ADD and an increase in self disciplined and emotional wellbeing at all

developmental stages. (Pergams and

Zaradic, 2007)

“A rich open environment will continuously provide alternative

choices for creative engagement. A rigid, bland environment will limit

healthy growth and development of the individual or group”. (Robin Moore, 1997)

Why We Avoid Natural Playspaces in Early Childhood Settings

Concern for accidents in natural playspaces – liability becomes a major issue even though the accident rate is lower in natural playspaces than in more conventional playspaces Fear of litigation – the cumulation of rules and regulations which tell children that traditional forms of outdoor play are against the rules. An

environment where the potential for a lawsuit is more the focus and less responsibility is taken for small accidents and/or mistakes by families

Why We Avoid Natural Playspaces in Early Childhood Settings

Poorly designed outdoor spaces – bad past experiences when re-designing centre playspaces Growth of the use of air conditioning – no need to be outdoors Apprehensive parents leading to apprehensive teachers, centres and children Our obsession with safety

Children today spend less time playing outdoors than any previous generation. 82% of mothers with children between the ages of three and twelve years, cited crime and safety concerns as one of the primary reasons they do not allow their children to play outdoors.

Why We Avoid Natural Playspaces in Early Childhood SettingsChildren face more dangers indoors or in

their own homes than outdoors –

Spores from toxic moulds Bacteria or allergens from vermin Carbon monoxide, radon or lead dust, etc The allergen levels of newer, sealed buildings can be as much as 200 times greater than older structures. Plastic play structures and infectious diseases(Environmental Protection Authority)

Why We Avoid Natural Playspaces in Early Childhood Settings Overly structured play experiences –

“What I like doing best, is nothing” Christopher Robin, AA Milne 1928 Less time available to explore the outdoors The concept that indoors is where all the learning happens and the outdoors is time for children to “run around” Dependence on computers for all information and learning. This overdependence on them displaces other sources of education from arts to nature

“Many child care outdoor environments, even today, consist of isolated pieces of

equipment in a mono-culture of real or artificial grass”.

(Herrington and Studman, 1998)

“Fixed equipment leaves little room for children to play creatively, since there is

generally a finite number of ways to use each aspect of the

equipment”. (Brown and Burger, 1984:

Walsh, 1993)

Small Group Work

In groups work together to produce a small plan of your

centre’s outdoor space.

Think about where you may be able to either add or create two

or three natural elements for children in their play.

Swedish studies found “that children on asphalt playgrounds had play that was much more interrupted, they played in short bursts. But in more natural playgrounds, children invent whole sagas that they carried from day-to-day – making and collecting meaning”. (Grahn, Martensson, Lindblad, Nilsson, Ekman, 1997)

“Researchers have also observed that when children played in an environment dominated by play structures, rather than natural

elements, they established their social hierarchy through physical competence. After an open area

was planted with shrubs and grasses, the quality of the play was different and became more

fantasy based and social standing became based on language skills,

creativity and inventiveness.” (Louv, 2005)

How To Bring Back Natural Play

Plant a native/indigenous plant area to give children a sense of place and connection to their local environment Use plants that attract birds and wildlife Create a bog garden Use vines and arbours as

entry ways into special spaces Provide children with magnifying

glasses and places to store their natural findings

How To Bring Back Natural Play Add a nesting box to any

trees in your centre Create sensory gardens – plants with scent, texture, sound and taste, eg, bush tucker gardens Develop an edible garden Incorporate a dry creek bed, small boardwalks, etc Create a labyrinth or maze using native grasses and/or shrubs


Plant trees for shade instead of using shade structures and sails

Provide places for children to sit and observe nature

Give children tasks such as looking after specific plants/trees – monitoring

mulch, watering, plant health, etc, builds a sense of responsibility

Some children are fascinated by bugs, for others they are a source of fear and confusion – by helping children catch and release safe insects, teachers can foster ease

and understanding See the centre outdoor area as a landscape – which is more engaging and can allow children to express themselves

and their feelings within it

Add open ended, loose parts to children’s play - such as trees, shrubs, flowers, water, long grasses, sand and structures that offer privacy and views Rediscover the outdoors with children – share experiences and be involved with them on every level Children value the unmanicured spaces – some areas of wild, spacious, uneven areas broken by clusters of plants


When children are exploring be aware of telling them to “be careful” all the time as this can stress children who may already be nervous about natural spaces – try to use “pay attention” which helps to combat fear by giving the children the power to control it.


When re-designing your centre’s outdoor playspace consider including natural

elements – they will be of benefit to both children and families.

The most effective way to connect children to nature is to connect ourselves to nature. If children sense genuine adult enthusiasm,

they’ll want to emulate that interest.

Do we want natural play to be a part of children’s lives?Do we want them to carry with them a sense of wonder about their childhood and their play environments?

Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. ~ Rachel Carson ~

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Natural Playspace Design