Monday, March 24, 2014

Playgrounds & How They Might Effect Behavior

Belleville Park Playground, France

The large playground in France offers children who visit the chance to go climbing. Using the angled terrain to its advantage, they've created a place to climb for all levels of bravery and daring, in addition to more traditional fare like a jungle gym. This climbing area offers a challenge higher than most others, leading to increased feelings of camaraderie should they complete it in groups. 

Takino Hillside Park, Japan

This park offers children an environment just as wild as their imagination. Attempting to foster an interest in nature, the designers went about filling the park with objects that might be hard to correlate, yet are fascinating and beautiful in their own way. The austere serenity of the surrounding natural environment is paired with abstract interpretations such as toy beehives and a wondrous fabric dome that looks too alien to describe. These interactions children have in such an environment undoubtedly give them an appreciation for the natural world since they're forming positive memories surrounded by it. 

The Fruit and Scent Park, Sweden

This is a park where, as the name betrays, all the equipment is shaped like fruits. The merits of riding a watermelon versus the more traditional animals is hard to gauge, but it can said with certainty that it gives children positive memories of fruits, which surely is appreciated by any loving parent. 

Water Playground in Tychy, Poland

This playground relies on the natural environment (it was shaped as such to avoid cutting down trees) to give children a water playground. The various fountains to climb are not only there for play, they also glow using LEDs, making the experience more magical as they light up the night in a manner straight out of the imagination. Encouraging play even at night is something most playgrounds fail to do, so this is a smart and beautiful way to make the park viable all day long. 

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