The Play
Center Design
The Play Center at Hattie
Larlham is dedicated to ensuring every child
has a place to play. This inclusive, parent-supervised
play environment provides an ability-friendly
play environment for every family member
to play together.
The Play Center was developed
around three core design tenants: that it
incorporate universal design into its layout,
that it be developmentally appropriate and
that it provide experiential variety for
all visitors.
Universal Design
The concept behind universal
design is simple: make things that can be
used by all people without the need for
adaptation or modification. This thinking
is being applied to everything from kitchen
appliances to Web sites. The philosophy
of universal design is based upon seven
principles, listed below and as defined
by the Center for Universal Design.
- Equitable Use: The
design is useful and marketable to people
with diverse abilities.
- Flexibility in Use:
The design accommodates a wide range of
individual preferences and abilities.
- Simple and Intuitive
Use: Use of the design is easy to understand,
regardless of the user's experience, knowledge,
language skills or current concentration
level.
- Perceptible Information:
The design communicates necessary information
effectively to the user, regardless of
ambient conditions or the user's sensory
abilities.
- Tolerance for Error:
The design minimizes hazards and the adverse
consequences of accidental or unintended
actions.
- Low Physical Effort:
The design can be used efficiently and
comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
- Size and Space for
Approach and Use: Appropriate size and
space is provided for approach, reach,
manipulation, and use regardless of user's
body size, posture or mobility.
Developmentally Appropriate
The Play Center at Hattie
Larlham also considered whether activities
would be developmentally appropriate for
visiting children. This type of thinking
takes factors into account beyond a child’s
physical age. These often include the physical,
social, emotional and intellectual levels
of guests to The Play Center. For example,
typically developing toddlers will often
play by themselves and partake in spatial
play like building or stacking. In developing
The Play Center, careful consideration was
taken to provide play outlets for children
who may be physically older than their intellectual
or social developmental abilities.
Experiential Variety
When developing play areas
for The Play Center, important consideration
was given to the different types of play
in which children could participate. As
such, play areas were developed that promoted
sensory exploration, object manipulation
and social interaction allowing children
to learn through experiencing all aspects
of their world.
Play Areas
The Play Center at Hattie
Larlham provides a variety of play options
for children. These classifications of play
have been found to be developmentally beneficial
to children as they grow and learn from
the world around them. These play classifications
include:
Art Play
Big Muscle Play
Pretend Play
Sensory Play
Music Play
Block Play
Early Learners Play
The Play Center at Hattie
Larlham includes a contained eating area
so that families can enjoy a snack break
together during their play experience.
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