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Enhancing Outdoor Spaces
January 15, 2015
We are all so deeply connected; we have no option but to love all.
-Amit Ray
-Amit Ray
Nancy Rosenow (one of the organizers of the Working Forum on Design and Nature: Designing Inspiring and Effective Spaces for Children, taking place in New Zealand in March) noted in her article in the July/August 2011 issue of Exchange, "Planning Intentionally for Children's Outdoor Environments," that "we’ve learned what we can do to make the world a better place for children through their outdoor environments." Here is what she suggests we can do:
- We can work to ensure that every outdoor environment used by children will become a nature-filled, joyful space.
- We can help children truly notice and appreciate the wonders of the natural world.
- We can create and use outdoor spaces in ways that are right for each unique setting.
- We can encourage children to experience managed risk and challenge.
- We can spread the word that children learn in valuable ways in nature-filled outdoor spaces just as much as they do indoors.
Architects, landscape architects, educators, and environmental advocates will gather in New Zealand on March 11 – 14, 2015 for Designing Inspiring and Effective Spaces for Children, a World Forum Foundation Working Forum on Design and Nature. Participants at the event will explore high-level universal principles necessary in designing effective and inspiring indoor and outdoor spaces for children.
You can be one them!
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Comments (2)
Displaying All 2 CommentsNature Explore
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
This is such a good point, and speaks to why it's important to have gatherings that help all of us --designers and educators alike -- ensure that any design is based on children's interests and needs, along with the context of the community and natural setting of each individual program. In other words, the design should support a venue for children's explorations and initiatives. It's important for us as adults to try hard to continually learn from children.
Grassroots Playscapes
Hancock, New Hampshire, United States
One aspect that is often missing in the ambition to create naturalistic play spaces is empowering children's individual will to play. Too many forums, plans, and discussions are prefaced with an architect's sketch and the products that support the effort while children appear to be left with a heavy handed approach to what adults think is good for them - forgetting that play is really a byproduct of children and how they adjust and evolve their participation.
In addition, the effort to make good stewards is lost if the focus is entirely on how to program respect for nature into children. Certainly they need exposure but so do parents and staff who will hopefully bring the experience of nature inclusion to their homes and wider community.
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