Playspace Exploration Pt. 2 by Lauren Sturm

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 18:11:44 UTC

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 18:14:54 UTC

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 19:31:34 UTC

In order for a child to be able to hold onto and swing from one handhold to the other, they have to have fine and gross motor skills. They must be able to have the postural control to swing from one bar to another, and also a developed cylindrical grasp to have the strength to hold their body weight and move it from one bar to another. They also need their vestibular sense in order to maintain balance and focus while swinging from one bar to the next. Postural control is essential here in order to have control over the body's gross movement, and refined movement is important to practice hand-eye coordination - seeing and achieving - as well as the endurance to hang on.

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 19:38:58 UTC

For a child to be able to swing on a swing set, they need to have a cylindrical grasp as well as strong postural control to stay on the swing while pumping their legs.

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 19:48:31 UTC

this motor skill, swinging, requires control over one's legs and posture. To kick off and start swinging, as well as pumping legs to swing higher and to land on one's feet to get off the swing or stop moving. Posture is crucial as it will keep the child on the swing while pumping their feet/legs. Another important element is graded movement, to pump the swing enough to swing at a good height but not too much that you fall off, though this can be a goal for children (i did that)

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 22:35:06 UTC

Onlooker

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 22:38:55 UTC

In this play space, only one child can use the monkey bars at a time. So every child waiting in line, or standing on the side, is engaging in onlooker behavior. Not only in waiting, but also to learn and observe the methods used to use the monkey bars as intended.

Unoccupied

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 22:45:07 UTC

In this play space, there is only 1 swing. There have likely been many children (or teens) that have sat in this swing, either while talking to friends or on their own, that sat in this swing not just to swing but to see how tightly they can spin the chain around so that while unraveling, they spin quickly. This is them creatively playing with themselves and their surroundings in unconventional ways.

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 22:48:27 UTC

Vestibular

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 22:58:42 UTC

Swinging, both traditional and spinning, changes one's balance and spatial orientation. This stimulates the vestibular system as the body senses changes in motion and rhythm. Swinging forward and back allows for controlled vestibular input; this causes the ear's canals to send signals to the brain to be like, "Hey!! we're moving and not on the ground!!" which will produce endorphins and cortisol as rewards for physical movement as well as having the body use proprioception to feel where it is in space.

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 23:06:47 UTC

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 23:08:34 UTC

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 23:09:05 UTC

What do you notice now about this play space?

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 23:10:02 UTC

After learning more about senses and types of play, I notice how many places there are for pretend play and how many open spaces there are to support that. I can also see how each corner holds opportunities for engagement; though the playground is not handicap accessible, and there are only a few pieces that deal with sensory stimulation - like the one slide and one swing, it still holds high potential for social and imaginative development. I noticed after visiting a second time that the playground was geared more towards younger children than adolescents, with the exception of the monkey bars, everything was very low to the ground.

How has your view of this play space changed since your first observation of the space? What do you notice differently?

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 23:10:23 UTC

The biggest difference is in imagining what types of play can/will/have gone on in this space. I also noticed some changes in ground solidity, as it rained before going there, there was a huge muddy spot underneath the monkey bars and between the two climbing structures. My view of the castle tops also changed. At first, I saw them as boring and in need of something else, but I now see what opportunities they hold for the imagination of the children who play within them. I also noticed how low to the ground most structures were, which would lead me to believe this area is meant more for younger children then middle schoolers, which would make sense.

How could this space be used to support child development?

lsturm1_2 — 2023-11-27 23:10:38 UTC

This space could be helpful in supporting imaginative/pretend play as well as social engagement. It's not the most stimulating playground; for sensory, there's only a slide, 1 swing, and monkey bars. However, there is a trading station, 2 castle tops, 2 mazes, and a train. They're also quite open spaces, which would allow multiple kids to be in the area at once. This would work great for pretend play, setting a mission or common goal, and working towards it. This playground not offering as many obvious play items can also allow for children to use their surroundings (nature) to pretend with, which can be very good for developing a connection with the world around them.