Introduction - Natural Play Spaces

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IntroductionIntroductionNaturalNatural PlayspacesPlayspaces

Tess Michaels ² Tessa Rose Playspace andLandscape Design

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

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Th e Relations h ip BetweenCh ildren and Nature

Children feel connected to nature ² it is a constantin their lives. The earlier a child develops a ´bondµwith the natural world, the more likely that child will

feel trust and comfort in nature versus fear anddread.´Outdoor play experiences can be as effective asindoor play in stimulating young children·sdevelopmentµ. (Henniger, 1993)

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Th e Relations h ip Between

Ch ildren and Nature

´ W ith children·s access to the outdoors and thenatural world becoming increasingly limited or non- existant, child care, kindergartens and schools where

children spend 40-50 hours per week may be ourlast opportunity to reconnect children with thenatural world and create a future generation thatvalues and preserves nature.µ

(Malone and Tranter 2003)

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Th ink back to w h ere you played outdoors as a c h ild. Picture

yourself movingth roug h th at space ² W h at do you remember? W h at did you doth ere?

Remember t h e environment ² W h at were its colours and textures?W h at sounds

do you remember h earing ? W h at did it smell like? Were t h ereth ings you could

eat in your outdoor environment ?² fruits, vegetables, h erbs?W h at about t h e

seasons in t h is remembered place? How did t h e place c h angew h en summer

became autumn? How did your play c h ange?

´Child ren are tune d int o th e mag i c of lif e in ways th at

t oo ma ny of us h ave tun ed outµ

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W h y Ch ildren Need NatureDirect exposure to nature isessential for physical andemotional healthProximity to views of and daily exposure to natural settingsincreases children·s ability tofocus, increases theirattention span and enhancescognitive skills .

Multisensory experiences innature help to build ´thecognitive constructs necessary for sustained intellectual

developmentµ

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W h y Ch ildren Need Nature

N ature is important to children·s development. Play innature is especially important for developing capacitiesfor creativity and problem solvingPlay in nature increases children·s self esteem and self

worthProvides children with alevel of resistance to negativestress and depression ²natural playspaces allow children to have opportunitiesto remove themselvesfrom everyday pressures

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W h y Ch ildren Need Nature

Children are able to experience naturallifecycles, growth and decay. They begin tounderstand natural systems and see that

nature is a uniquely regenerative processN atural spaces and materials stimulatechildren·s limitless imagination and serve asthe medium of inventiveness and creativity

observable in almost any group of childrenplaying in a natural environment and/orplayspace

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W h y Ch ildren Need NatureChildren develop a bond with the natural worldthat can form a foundation for environmentalstewardshipN atural playspaces and green spaces offer socialinteraction and prompt social support which leads tosocial competence

Children who spend moretime playing in naturalplayspaces have more friends

² the deepest friendshipsdevelop from sharedexperiences particularly inenvironments in which all the

senses are enlivened

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W h at I like doing best is not h ingµ.Christopher Robin(A.A Milne, 1928)

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´A rich open environment will continuously providealternative choices for creative engagement. A rigid,bland environment will limit healthy growth and

development of the individual or groupµ.(Robin Moore, 1997)

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´M any c h ild care and sc h ool outdoorenvironments, even today, consist of

isolated pieces of equipment in a mono-culture of real or artificial grassµ.(Herrington and Studman, 1998)

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´F ixed equipment leaves little room for

ch ildren to play creatively, since t h ere isgenerally a finite number of ways to use

eac h aspect of t h e equipmentµ.

(Brown and Burger, 1984: Wals h , 1993)

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Swedish studies found ´that children onasphalt playgrounds had play that was muchmore interrupted, they played in short bursts.But in more natural playgrounds, childreninvent whole sagas that they carried from

day-to-day ² making and collecting meaningµ.(Grahn, Martensson, Lindblad, N ilsson, Ekman,1997)

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´Researchers have also observed that whenchildren played in an environment dominated

by play structures, rather than natural elements,they established their social hierarchy through

physical competence. After an open area wasplanted with shrubs and grasses, the quality of the play was different and became more

fantasy based and social standing becamebased on language skills, creativity and

inventiveness.µ(Louv, 2005)

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Labyrint h s

Labyrinths provide a powerful means of introducingrestful movement into children·s playspaces. They haveone path which leads to the centre and back out againand have been used for centuries as a form of meditation. Walking a labyrinth is a right brain activity,enhancing peacefulness.

Labyrinths can be comprised of many different types of plant materials and alsobe in various forms, sizes and shapes.N ative grasses have been increasingly

successful as low level labyrinths.

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Mazes differ to labyrinths in that they

are more of a puzzle and providechildren with choices about whichdirection to take, etc. There is a widevariety of materials that can beutilised to certain heights that eitherprovide gaps in the maze or are low enough to provide complete visualaccess. Plant mazes don·t all requirehigh maintenance and pruning ²there are many options for low maintenance mazes.

Although the maze shown here is large scale, adaptations can always be madeto suit site conditions.

Both labyrinths and mazes are excellent alternatives to turf areas which have notbeen successful due to drought and compaction from overuse, especially when

the appropriate plant materials are used in their design and development.

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Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earthare never alone or weary of life.

~ Rachel Carson ~

´Children want play environments where they have the power toimprint themselves upon the landscape, endow the landscapewith significance and experience their own activities as capable of transforming the environment.µ (White, 1997)

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Create your idea of aplayspace usingnatural and foundmaterials. (see theexample shown)

Be ready to discusseach part and shareyour work!

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IngredientsIngredients

Hills/TunnelsHills/TunnelsWater Water PlantsPlants ± ± texture,texture,scents, season/sscents, season/sPathwaysPathwaysSandSandStagesStages ± ± cubbies,cubbies,ampitheatresampitheatres, etc, etc

Artwork ArtworkSoundSound ± ± music,music,plantsplantsHideoutsHideouts ± ±tepeestepeesOpen AreasOpen AreasSeating/GatheringSeating/GatheringSpacesSpacesGardensGardens