NATURAL PLAY
Think about where you used to prefer to play… often it was in a place in nature. The park or wooded area nearby, the piece of greenery on the corner. A place that wasn’t officially recorded as the place to play. Children like to discover their own play areas and look for nature for this. Unfortunately, the possibilities for playing in nature are increasingly limited. Especially to develop natural play and stimulate nature experience, we developed a design concept for the design of natural play areas and nature playgrounds.
With Adventure Play, you can of course make playing an experience. It is a versatile and adventurous play and exercise program in whimsical Robinia wood that allows you to create exciting and adventurous setups and fixtures with a natural look.
NATURAL PLAY
Children like to explore nature themselves. Enjoy sand and water, climb a tree and come up with exciting adventures with each other. Coming home with mud on your clothes or broken trousers and with plenty of stories in your pocket. This free play in nature has lost quite a bit in recent years due to urbanization. Research even shows that 15% of children never play outside (source: Jantje Beton, 2019). However, natural play and nature experience are of the utmost importance for development. While at the same time there is a decline in outdoor play. A vicious circle lurks. Children are increasingly cut off from essential coping strategies: nature experience, physical movement and inquisitive play. That is why it is essential and a good reason to believe that nature education, natural playgrounds and schoolyards make a substantial contribution to health and learning climate. Playing outside and involving children in nature is very important. It forms the basis for being healthy and successful in an increasingly urban environment (source: IVN, 2014).
INTERIOR NATURAL PLAY AREAS
In the outdoor area there is less and less space to play freely outside. There are fewer and fewer vacant land or wooded areas nearby. At the same time, there is a desire, need and necessity for setting up places where nature experience is central. An environment that meets the needs of children with a less defined device. A place that encourages you to investigate. You can move freely and enjoy nature. For managers, designers and urban planners, who are involved in the design of outdoor space, the challenge is to realize more opportunities for natural play. We help with this with a design concept especially for natural play. And when designing natural play areas and nature playgrounds, look at all the factors needed to set up the playground in a natural and adventurous way.
OUR TIPS FOR NATURAL PLAY AREAS
✔ Go for accessible play areas where children like to come (central playground, schoolyard, landscaping nearby);
✔ Take into account the 4 human types ‘Energizers, Structure seekers, Builders and Observers‘ and look beyond the primary age group (supervision/ sports and exercise options for the elderly, etc.);
✔ Look at the current use of the playground, there are so-called elephant paths and natural elements are already used to play (trees, shrubs, sand and water);
✔ Keep and make the play area accessible and accessible to everyone, including the disabled;
✔ Ensure that children can interpret and create the play options themselves;
✔ Planting, nuts/fruit trees, an insect hotel or vegetable garden for even more nature experience;
✔ Sufficient trees and shelter for cooling during hot days;
✔ Work with recyclable/recycled circular material, e.g. reused felled trees/ branches for a path or willow hut. A wall/seat of pavement tiles and a play lead or embankment of excess sand (closed ground balance);
✔ Also include the edges of the play area (stroll paths and discovery paths) and make sure play options can vary by season and weather type.
ADVENTURE PLAY
From sailing over wild seas in tough playships, to defeating knights and dragons in castles and play towers. Or create a challenging exercise course with the different climbing and scrambling elements, for the ultimate combination of playing and moving. In our designs for natural play, we use the adventure play and exercise program. Ideal for natural play and surprisingly present in an urban environment. With a wide choice for all age groups and for every human type. Anything is possible.
FSC-GECERTIFICEERD
We believe it is important that we manufacture our products from sustainable materials as much as possible. With the lowest possible impact on people and the environment. We consciously choose to purchase FSC®-certified wood for the manufacture of our wooden products. All Robinia wood used in our Adventure Play playground equipment and playground equipment is FSC® certified.
Would you like to discover more about the possibilities of natural play and the play and exercise program of Adventure Play? Read all about it on the special product page, contact one of our advisers or request a quote right away.
