Designing Engaging Environment for Children

Ask your school-age children or nephew what their favorite subject is if you have any. If we were to dare, a good number of them would say "recess." 

Today, elementary school age children spend at least half of their time outside their homes, that is, at school. The recess time is a valuable tool  for mental break and expressing themselves regardless of the learning method implemented at school. And for children, they feel they never get enough recess time. That’s simply what children love doing: they play.

We introduce Indonesia’s unique geographical terrain, “Ring of Fire”, as the design inspiration for the communal space between school buildings in an elementary school. Indonesia, a tropical country with the most volcanoes in the world, is located in this region. The overall design is also intended to preserve natural vegetation and biodiversity within the school environment. Thus, children can utilize the space as a grounding place to understand the nature of the tropical climate.

Recess means playtime, and for children, it is a valuable part of their school experience. It offers opportunities for physical exercise, learning life skills, exploring their limits, and enhancing overall development, including cognitive, social, mental, and emotional growth. That is why it is important to create an environment that brings more enjoyment at school and help them to go home in a positive mental state. 

Playground spaces are integrated into the school garden, creating a seamless play environment. The

top image shows the South side of the school's common area, while the lower image shows the North part.

We introduce Indonesia’s unique geographical terrain, “Ring of Fire”, as the design inspiration for the communal space between school buildings in an elementary school. Indonesia, a tropical country with the most volcanoes in the world, is located in this region.. The overall design is also intended to preserve natural vegetation and biodiversity within the school environment. Thus, children can utilize the space as a grounding place to understand the nature of tropical climate. This theme allows us to create mounding and terrain to create the element of surprise, by providing hiding spaces for children to play hide and seek with their friends as a learning tool to socialize or to explore different shapes of spaces on their own. 

Playground design approaches.

A playful environment: mounds imitate the mountain-like forms of the ‘Ring of Fire’ as a surprise and secret element. 

(Source: Playpoint)

The landscape design exploration aims to enhance the play experience within the school environment. By understanding children's nature to play freely with their imagination, the design offers a variety of play options, including intuitive or spontaneous play. As a playground designated for younger children to early teenage (age 6-12), the playground  provides different kinds of play equipment with different challenges for different age groups and creating zones with different energy levels. Providing simple, and versatile equipment that sparks creativity and imagination is just as important as having more advanced play equipment. Thus, this playground keeps the children getting challenged to complement structured learning experience that they have in classes. 

Treehouses in a playground serve as an excellent tool for enhancing various motor skills in children. It provides opportunities for climbing,

balancing, and coordinating movements, which contribute to the development of strength, endurance, and spatial awareness.

(Source: Playpoint)

Another concern to address is to gain the parents' trust  that their children are safe at school, for example, by reducing the risk of injury. That is why children ergonomics and international safety standards, including inclusive standards for the environment, should be complied. Play equipment usually matches with children's ergonomics, and the environment should be too. Objects with dimensions that fit best with children will allow children to explore the environment independently and welcomes children with special needs. This does not mean reducing the challenge, but by creating more sensible surface level, for example reducing stairs and maintaining terrain that complies with universal standards. 

Landscape leveling and color play to give different stimuli. Existing trees are preserved.

(Source: Playpoint)

Different kinds of equipment cater separate age groups. 

(Source: Playpoint)

Creating sensible and stimulating play spaces is an investment that supports the overall development of children and foundation for their future growth. However, it is important to remember that the complexity of the materials or equipment is not the main issue. Rather, the focus should be on creating environments that are appropriate to the children’s overall development, by addressing the fundamental issue of balancing safety and engagement. 

(PDW/PSY)