THE VALUE OF PLAY SPACES FOR ALL · Play houses High to middle Space for retreat, social contact, role play Sand and water play High Creativity, physical activity, experiencing the

shaping healthy communities

THE VALUE OF PLAY SPACES FOR ALL

Presented by Gregor H. Mews, Founding Director USG & Adjunct Professional Associate, CeRAPH, University of Canberra


2Source: Jason Domin, age 10


3

Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Battle_of_Bosworth_Field_diorama.jpg

Perceived space

Conceived space Lived space


4

Source: Freeman, C., van Heezik, Y., Stein, A., Hand, K. (2015) Natural Neighbourhoods for City Children p. 42


5

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-462091/How-children-lost-right-roam-generations.html

#UrbanSynergiesGroup @usgthinkers

Loss of

independent

mobility and

opportunities for

free play


6

Individual motives Collective impact as a

consequence of individual

action

Protection from heavy

traffic and stranger danger

(perception of safety)

Islanding effect of play spaces,

social exclusion, isolation, lost

sense of belonging

No dirty cloths and risk

exposure

Less independent experiences

(less developed social and

cognitive skills), allergies

Illnesses (e.g. virus

infection), accidents

Physical inactivity, overweight,

obesity, diabetes 2, depression,

hyperactivity, bad posture,

degenerative organs- and

muscle development

Liability issues, time poor Institutionalisation and

pedagogisation

Source: SIK-Holz Play Space Seminar Series (2015)

“Children learn what they live”

Dorothy Law Nolte


7* Concept definition by Blinkert, B. in Blinker, B., Höfflin, P., Schmider, A., & Spiegel, J. (Eds.). (2015). Raum für Kinderspiel! Berlin: Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk.

Source: boy in car by zenhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/zen/3856125/

Homogeneous childhood *

Heterogeneous

childhood *

Source: Urban Synergies Group


8

Achievement (%)

Limited 9.6

Partial 61.4

Satisfactory 23.6

High 5.2

Excellent 0.2

Current fitness standards

based on 22.000

measurements


Source: Prof. Tom Cochrane, University of Canberra, Centre for Research and Action in Public Health


9

0

100

200

300

400

500

Y2007 Y2008 Y2009 Y2010 Y2011 Y2012

Rat

e p

er 1

00

,00

0 p

erso

n y

ears

Year

Endocrine and circulatory disease admission rates/100,000 in 0-24 year olds - Canberra public

hospitals

83% increase in 5 years


Source: Prof. Tom Cochrane, University of Canberra, Centre for Research and Action in Public Health

21st century health

prospects in decline?


10

Lack of

creativity, social

competencies &

imagination


11

“Children today

walk less than

ever before in the

history of

humanity”(Roberts and Edwards, 2010, 39)



Recreate the

“magic” in our

neighbourhood

s and co-create

“sticky” public

spaces!12

Source: SIK-Holz



13

Source: International Play Association


Macro level

(child friendly city and healthy city)

Meso level

(play space and playground)

Micro level

(play equipment or other props)


14

Equipment type Dwell time Skill fostering

Swinging and rotating equipment High High intensity for physical activity, feeling weightless, experience centrifugal power

Rocking equipment Middle to low Feeling body weight, sense of balance is shifting

Agility and climbing equipment High to middle Body fitness, power, endurance

Play combinations Middle Combination pending on choice of equipment

Sport fields High to middle Physical activity, endurance, skill, social contact

Play houses High to middle Space for retreat, social contact, role play

Sand and water play High Creativity, physical activity, experiencing the law of physics

Sculptures and sensory play Middle Role play

Other equipment High to low Basic needsSource: Gust, C. (2015) SIK-Holz® presentation on play spaces –Seminar in Berlin


15

Source: Gregor Mews Source: Gregor Mews

Issues of equipment


16

Value of equipment

Source: Courtesy of SIK-Holz Source: Gregor Mews


17

General characteristics (as defined by norm)

Creativity and imagination (weight 30 %)

Contact (weight 20 %)

Dynamic (weight 10 %)

Experiment (weight 20 %)

Encouragement for the senses and physical activity (weight 20 %)


18

General characteristics (as defined by norm)

Intergeneratio

nal fairness

Source: Courtesy of SIK-Holz



19

Creative and imaginative (weight 30 %)

Source: Gregor MewsSource: Urban Synergies Group


20

Contact (weight 20 %)

Source: Courtesy of SIK-HolzSource: Urban Synergies Group


21


Source: Gregor MewsSource: Gregor Mews


22


Source: Urban Synergies GroupSource: Urban Synergies Group



23

Experiment (weight 20 %)

Source: Courtesy of SIK-Holz Source: Courtesy of SIK-Holz


24

Encouragement for physical

activity (weight 20 %)

Source: Courtesy of SIK-HolzSource: Gregor Mews


25

Encouragement for the

senses and education (weight

20 %)



Source: Gregor Mews

- Value places for different reasons (network approach)!

- Value independent mobility and play with nature!

- Value children by empowering them in decision- making processes!

- Value co-design and co-production with them!


26Source: Gregor Mews


27

Six questions that help you to

understand the value of a play

space

Is there sufficient space that you can play safely “Catch me if you can or tips”? Terrain and earth modulation, number of kids playing together, safety and path connections, no adjacent hazardous plant species/ harmful land uses or equipment


28



space

Can you play several rounds of ”Hide and Seek” that you do not know all hide outs right away and don’t have to be used twice? Degree of uncertainty, complexity and

surprise


29



space

Are there sufficient play options for small, medium children, adolescents and parents? Affordance, changeability, community connectedness through co-design and co-production, diversity and variety of uses for different age groups, possibility of risk, height, speed (diversity of play flow), quality equipment


30

Even more importantly, is the place designed and landscaped that children and adolescents can invent their own games? Possible combinations with loose elements (water and

sand, mud), natural, loose and temporary materials nearby, retreat options (hide, rest, communication)


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Do adults perceive the space it as safe and comfortable? Well maintained, barrier-free access to the play spaces, location of the play space, safety and path connections, community connectedness, features that encourage communication (benches, shade sails, seating, toilets, café)


32

Is there space for contact with nature? Ratio natural green space and sealed surface, terrain and earth modulation


33

ContactEmail: [email protected]: +61 4 22 183 747Twitter: @usgthinkersLinkedIn: @GregMews


mailto:[email protected]

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THE VALUE OF PLAY SPACES FOR ALL · Play houses High to middle Space for retreat, social contact, role play Sand and water play High Creativity, physical activity, experiencing the