Infant and Toddler Responses to a Redesign of Their Childcare Outdoor Play Space

Abstract

Researchers used an affordances-based conceptual framework to study infants’ and toddlers’ responses to the redesign of their play space. Behavior mapping and child tracking observations showed that the introduction of features such as edging, levels and inclines appeared to increase the level and variety of children’s physical activity, and lead to greater utilization of the space. While researchers observed children engaging with natural affordances, this was less than expected, possibly due to educator constraints. Children’s engagement with new features indicated unique child views of the space and a delight in challenge. Findings suggest the value of looking for children’s perspective on affordances, and considering the effects of specific features and the influence of caregivers in evaluating design outcomes.