Playscapes

Designs for Play, Exploration and Science Inquiry

Abstract

The Cincinnati Nature Center and the Arlitt Child and Family Research and Education Center at the University of Cincinnati partnered in 2008 to create the Nature Playscape Initiative (NPI). The organization aims to promote playscapes: nature-based environments designed for children’s open-ended play and learning. This field report describes the activities emerging from this collaboration including building two demonstration playscapes and training preschool teachers to promote their students’ science learning in a playscape setting. These and other activities are meeting NPI’s vision that all children in Cincinnati have access to a safe place to play in nature.