Playscapes

A design perspective on young children's physical play

Conference paper (2016)

Authors

Boudewijn Boon Human Information Communication Design - IDE
M.C. Rozendaal Human Information Communication Design - IDE
Marry M. Van den Heuvel-Eibrink Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology
J.J. van der Net Wilhelmina Children's Hospital
P.J. Stappers Design Conceptualization and Communication - IDE
Research Group
Human Information Communication Design (IDE) (TU Delft)
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Published Date

2016

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Industrial Design Engineering

Department

Human-Centered Design

Research Group

Human Information Communication Design

Abstract

In early childhood, children develop motor skills that form the basis of
their future physical activities. This development can stagnate when
children face long-term hospitalization due to injury or disease. Most
interventions to facilitate their physical development are built on
exercise and structured play, and have ignored the value of spontaneous
and unstructured play. For this reason, we introduce 'Playscapes' as a
design perspective on young children's physical play. Playscapes is
inspired by outdoor play, and accounts for three qualities: bodily play,
dispersed play and free play. These qualities can help interaction
designers to generate designs that help children playfully develop
physical competence. The design perspective is used for developing two
design interventions specifically for children with cancer. To point out
the merits of Playscapes, the design interventions are compared with
two exercise-based interventions. Finally, challenges and future steps
are discussed for further developing Playscapes.