GROUNDED SPACES FOR CHILDREN
Coming Soon
We recently had the pleasure of working with a client on their Design Elements Report as part of our Spatial Wellbeing Program. One outcome of this research was the rethinking of grounded spaces for children within the home; how can spaces within the home help children to feel grounded and engage in individual, creative, collaborative, parallel, quiet and guided play? What do these spaces feel like and what sort of behaviours do they encourage?
We have since worked on these children’s spaces to develop a research piece around grounded spaces for children from an interior design perspective.
PARALLEL PLAY
As a mother of two small children I often notice that my kids want to play in the same room but often doing different things. Spaces that enable parallel play to occur help support this play mode; these spaces enable proximity but also facilitate individual play.
Parallel play is where children engage in play independently alongside each other. A way to support this spatially is to provide opportunities for parallel play through nooks and spaces on the periphery, as well as, providing central spaces for play. Nooks on the periphery will help encourage focused individual play. Central anchors (like floor rugs) will help encourage children to ground themselves and engage in play away from the periphery, whilst still being in proximity to others in the space.
GUIDED PLAY
Children’s play areas also need grounded spaces where parent and child can engage in play and learning together. This could be as simple as a low, comfortable chair (that comfortably fits both parent and child), by a window.
Low pieces of furniture create spatial anchors to encourage focus and engagement. Keep the objects in the space simple and functional, use soft “task-based” lighting, use a muted, low contrast colour palette, integrate natural and tactile materiality and keep proportions low to help ground the body. These elements will help create a calm, low sensory space where quiet guided play can take place.
Guided play spaces where parent and child can connect both physically and mentally help to calm the nervous system and create opportunities for children to reconnect with their caregivers and themselves.
QUIET PLAY
Visually quiet spaces for children can help support modes and practices of quiet play. Physically grounded, inward looking spaces can provide opportunities for quiet activities such as drawing, puzzles and low-sensory play. These modes of play help children to wind down and down-regulate/ self-regulate. A round table and low seating can encourage focused and calm play.
To create visually quiet spaces keep the objects and furniture simple and functional, integrate soft task-based lighting, use a muted low contrast colour palette and include natural and tactile materiality. Avoid bold, bright colours and contrasting, clashing patterns and reduce clutter in the space to help ease stress, calm the nervous system, and help regulate children’s moods and emotions.
IMAGINATIVE PLAY
Spaces that encourage imaginative play are simple and spacious - allowing creative minds to play with endless possibilities. We believe a soft, muted colour palette, simplicity of form and ample open space provides the optimal spatial conditions for creativity and expression in children.
“The fourth need of children is free spontaneous play. Free spontaneous play that emerges from the child and is not programmed for them is more essential then intellectual stimulation…In our kindergartens, in our schools and in our homes there should be far more emphasis on spontaneous creative play than on the teaching of facts and the teaching of technology. Why do they play? Because this is how they develop into adults.” Gabor Mate.
In our render, we have included a modular, kids play couch. Modular pieces, like these, enable children to make spaces within spaces including cubbies, dens, castles, obstacle courses, with the act of creating and building different structures an important part of children’s intellectual and creative development through spontaneous creative play.
REGENERATIVE PLAY
Regenerative spaces can be created outside, in courtyards or indoor/outdoor spaces (patios, balconies etc). These spaces do not have to be big in size, small scale regenerative spaces will have a positive impact on children. Simple outdoor spaces with low, productive garden beds and a variety of greenery can provide children with the opportunity to engage in mindful movement, learning and regeneration.
These spaces can include sensory tables and edible veggie beds (children will find excitement about eating the vegetables they’ve helped grow). “Children develop new skills and learn about science and nature from growing their own food. There is a variety of interesting activities children can be involved in, such as planting, mulching, weeding and cooking.” (Better Health, Vic). Children learn about responsibility for caring for plants, self-confidence, love of nature, discovery, cooperation (shared play activity and teamwork) and creativity.