Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Access to high quality play is one of the most important factors in children’s physical, mental, and emotional development. Among certain key actors, however, there is a lack of knowledge of the benefits and how nature elements can support children's play, as well as lack of acceptance of nature-based playgrounds. This study concerns the opportunities within landscape architecture to promote the development of nature-based playgrounds. To develop knowledge on nature-based playgrounds and how including nature in the playground design can improve playgrounds and expand their use, data was collected from interviews with landscape architects. To understand children's perspectives on their play environments, this study also included group exercises, consisting of one meeting with fourteen preschool children (ages 6-7) and one teacher-formed lesson with seventeen primary school children (ages 8-9). Both included discussions and drawing exercises.
The meetings with children and the interviews with landscape architects provided various perspectives on play and children’s possible and actual preferences. As well as ideas about ways to improve the acceptance of nature-based playgrounds. Interview results reflect numerous benefits of nature contact and nature-based playgrounds, for example, more varied, imaginative, and less aggressive play opportunities, promoting physical, mental, and emotional development. The results also indicate various challenges concerning design, implementation and maintenance, and children's inclusion in the design process. Group exercises with children revealed differences in children's preferences based on age, and highlighted the need for age-appropriate design considerations. Primary school children mainly expressed a longing for more challenging play experiences, while preschool children emphasized the importance of social interaction and the colorful nature of their play environments.
To create a play environment for all children, nature-based playgrounds can provide more opportunities for children's play and create inclusive play environments by adding loose materials, allowing free play, balancing safety requirements with the need for challenging and engaging play experiences, and providing age-appropriate equipment. Despite the potential challenges of involving children in the design process, it is important to create spaces that truly meet their needs and preferences. The drawing method used in this study indicate potential, however, more research is needed about how to efficiently include children in the design process.
Keywords: Children's perspectives, green environments, green playgrounds, landscape architecture, nature-based playgrounds, nature contact, nature experience, perspectives on play, play design, play for development, sensory play, supportive design.