Enhance the Potential of School Playground Design

It is a general belief that the school playground design must be such that it as a whole becomes a true learning potential for every child. A playground in a school which is well designed can become a true asset. The right kind of playground equipment, perfect layout along with adequate compliances and safety measures can offer a child a wide range of benefits. 

Profound effects can be experienced in health, mind, and behaviour of children. Along with it, space can smartly be used for creating outdoor learning opportunities as well. The ideal school playground design which will not just stimulate their senses but make them happy students.

School Playground Design

Tips for Enhancing Potentials by Smart School Playground Design

1) The Playground Must Cater to Varied Types of Play – There are different types of play which helps children make sense of the surrounding world and mastering some life skills. School playground design must be such that it caters to a wide variety of play opportunities which is not the case in all schools. A playground which covers different kinds of play promotes development and growth opportunities for children. As a child engages in different play rules and methods their minds are forced to be creative and interactive.

2) Specific play categories encouraged - Some of the categories of play are active play, social play, creative, imaginative play, and reflective play. Activate play such as running, climbing, kicking; spinning etc encourages the movement of the body. Social play ideas like cooperating, sharing, talking, following the rule of the play help the student learn life skills. 

Creative activities like coloring, crafts, dance and singing can unleash their creative side. Imaginative play like the dress, make believe etc can teach them important roles played by various members of the society. Sensory play activities like smelling flowers, hearing sounds, tasting various edible plants etc can give them a sense of nature. Reflective play like visualizing, thinking, daydreaming etc can help broaden their knowledge.

3) A Place Which Attracts Young Minds – The school playground design must comprise of the right play equipment which will attract and invite the young minds. Installing equipment and make it accessible by the students is the first step. Make sure to create clear and specific pathways which are not very distant so children can easily walk up to the playground. Avoid being overprotective and ending up making the playground look like a prison.

4) Enhancing the creativity of children – As adults, we often think technically. For example, slides are used for children to slide and swings can be used for swinging. , on the other hand, are extremely creative. They can use the play equipment installed in the school playground design to find ways which are quite different than what they are constructed for. Hence there must be options for the child to allow their creativity to lead them in this space.

5) Cater to all groups evenly- An ideal school playground design must fulfill the varied necessities of the children. For this, a clear division of zones must be made where a range of activities are available for all children. So sports zone, quiet area, creative zones, obstacle zones, sand and mud play area etc are few ideas of making distinctive zone in the playground.

School Playground Design

Remember that children have varied nature and personalities. Some are dominant, expressive and some are shy and quiet. School playground design must be such that it is safe for all types of children. The design needs to be firstly safe for children and must cover their basic needs.