Summary of "Designing Healthy Outdoor Play Environments for and with Children Webinar"
Summary of "Designing Healthy Outdoor Play Environments for and with Children Webinar"
This webinar, hosted by Marianna Brussoni and presented by Dr. Janet Loebach, focuses on the importance of designing inclusive, healthy, and engaging outdoor play environments for children. It emphasizes a child rights-based approach and advocates for involving children directly in the design and planning of these spaces. The discussion integrates research findings, practical methodologies, and policy considerations, highlighting the multifaceted benefits of outdoor play and the challenges children face today in accessing quality play environments.
Main Ideas and Concepts
- Child Rights and Outdoor Play
- Children have a right to safe, fun, and inclusive play spaces, as affirmed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- Children are active citizens today, not just "human becomings," and their voices should be included in community planning and decision-making.
- Designing for children benefits other vulnerable populations and supports resilient, sustainable communities.
- Unique Needs of Children
- Children perceive and interact with their environments differently than adults.
- They are typically limited to their immediate neighborhoods due to mobility restrictions, making local play environments critical.
- Outdoor play, especially nature-rich and unstructured/free play, supports physical, cognitive, emotional, social development, and health outcomes.
- Current Challenges
- Declining outdoor playtime due to urbanization, safety concerns, increased screen time, structured schedules, and cultural shifts in parenting.
- Reduced independent mobility and shrinking "neighborhood ranges" for children.
- Inequities exist; low-income and ethnic minority children often have less access to quality outdoor play spaces and experience greater health disparities.
- Schools in some regions are reducing or eliminating outdoor recess, further limiting play opportunities.
- Research Methodologies
- Use of child-led, participatory, and digitally enhanced methods such as:
- Behavior mapping (observing and mapping play activities linked to environmental features)
- GPS tracking and accelerometers to monitor children’s activity and mobility
- Walk-along interviews and photo voice to gather children’s perspectives
- Multi-method frameworks to audit and evaluate outdoor play spaces before and after renovations.
- Use of child-led, participatory, and digitally enhanced methods such as:
- Designing Inclusive Outdoor Play Environments
- Move beyond traditional fenced playgrounds to diverse, natural, and multi-use spaces.
- Incorporate loose parts (natural and found objects) to encourage physical and imaginative play.
- Design spaces that support various types of play: physical, exploratory, imaginative, play with rules, bio play (interaction with living things), restorative play, and digital play.
- Consider topography and multiple settings to cater to different age groups and abilities.
- Integrate playful elements into everyday public spaces (e.g., swings in bus shelters).
- Key Ingredients for Outdoor Play
- Time: Children need prioritized, protected time outdoors, free from screens and structured activities.
- Space: Access to enticing, diverse, and nature-rich play environments within reachable distances.
- Freedom: Permission and safe opportunities for independent mobility and unsupervised play.
- Policy and Community Strategies
- Open up school grounds and community facilities for public multi-use outside school hours.
- Implement pedestrian-prioritized zones and traffic calming to create safe play-friendly streets.
- Use “Play streets” or temporary street closures to provide safe play areas.
- Address liability and supervision policies that restrict children’s independent play.
- Combat hostile design elements (e.g., anti-loitering devices targeting youth).
- Promote social cohesion and neighborhood support to alleviate parental safety concerns.
- Involving Children in Design and Planning
- Children provide unique, expert insights on their environments when given the right tools.
- Participatory design processes lead to more inclusive, appealing, and effective play spaces.
- Child involvement positively impacts not only the outcomes but also the children’s development and sense of agency.
- Examples of successful Child-led design projects include renovations in Ithaca (NY), New Westminster (BC), and London (Ontario).
- Health and Developmental Benefits of Outdoor Play
- Supports physical activity, reduces sedentary behavior, and helps prevent obesity.
- Enhances mental health, emotional regulation, resilience, and social skills.
- Improves cognitive function, creativity, and academic outcomes.
- Exposure to nature linked to vitamin D production, reduced myopia risk, and pro-environmental attitudes.
- Equity Considerations
- Children in apartments or high-density housing often have limited private outdoor space.
- Access to nearby parks and independent mobility can mitigate some limitations.
- Urban planning must address these disparities to ensure equitable play opportunities.
- Impact of COVID-19
- Mixed effects: some families increased outdoor time due to restrictions; others increased screen time.
- Some schools created outdoor classrooms that may continue post-pandemic.
Detailed Methodology and Recommendations for Designing Healthy Outdoor Play Environments
- Research Focus Areas
Category
Educational
