Though efforts to improve playground safety are consistent and ongoing, there has been no significant reduction in the rate of serious injuries. The article lists factors to consider when designing a safe playground, emphasizing the risk-taking inherent in children's play. (SM)

This guidebook provides an empirically-based set of planning and design guidelines for the construction of winter play facilities for Canadian youth residing in locations where outdoor play in winter is curtailed for approximately 4 months of the year. Information used in developing the guidelines was derived from field observations, a literature…

This report deals primarily with the design of an integrated free play environment for both able-bodied and disabled children. First, the different types of handicaps (and their debilitating effects) which affect children, and the different mobility aids which are used by these children are discussed. Then, a number of guidelines concerning…

Suggestions for the planning and design of playgrounds to meet the needs of children between 6 to 14 years of age living in medium- and high-density residential areas are offered in this document. The first and second chapters briefly focus on the child's right to play and present an overview of the developmental characteristics of children at…

The paper presents information pertaining to both equipment and human factors associated with playground safety for the handicapped. Research is reviewed on injuries related to public playground equipment, the equipment/user interface, and accommodation of equipment for all children. Noted among findings are that 72% of all reported injuries were…

Discusses the design of playgrounds to maximize play value and minimize risk. Considers four major risk factors--lack of supervision, inappropriate design for children's ages, falls to hard surfaces, and poor equipment maintenance--and discusses ways to design the playground to minimize these risks. (JPB)

This guide addresses the planning and architectural design of play/learning environments for special needs children. The exceptional children discussed include those with most types of mild to severe handicaps and developmental disabilities. Specifically excluded from consideration are health impairments, severe psycho-emotional difficulties such…

The purpose of this book is to help designers and teachers think about the quality of outside school environments as learning places. The first chapter defines the players' roles as: (1) the designer, a maker of school form; (2) the teacher, the maintainer of the environment; and (3) the child, who is a major force in the use of the space. These…

This bilingual publication deals with the characteristics of the young child, the importance of play to the development of the young child and the design criteria for play spaces that cater to the preschooler's special needs. Included are detailed suggestions regarding location and features that encourage various types of play. The relationship…

Ideally, playgrounds should encourage development of gross and fine motor skills and present a stimulating play environment that provides children with manageable challenges. In order to provide these challenges, a balance must be found between risk and safety. Over the last few years there has been an increased interest in the use of soft…

The booklet considers ways of developing new playground areas that are accessible to all children and adapting existing areas to make them suitable for use by handicapped and nonhandicapped children alike. Criteria for selecting equipment includes the interests and needs of the users; the movement needs of children (including movement involving…

Playgrounds, being a fundamental part of the childhood experience, should be safe havens for children. This handbook includes technical safety guidelines for designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining public playgrounds. It also includes a "Public Playground Safety Checklist" to highlight some of the most important safety issues…

Guidelines for playground equipment safety are presented in this handbook. It first provides an overview of common playground injuries and definitions. The layout and design of playgrounds, such as choosing a site, locating equipment, and separating equipment by age level, is addressed next. The remaining sections describe the installation and…

This paper offers practical assistance for the development of high quality playgrounds for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in child care. Discussion of the value of play in child development and the benefits of outdoor play is followed by a consideration of the ways children use playgrounds in exercise, construction, group and dramatic forms…

This paper formulates guidelines for the design of children's play environments to optimize children's creativity during play. The paper defines "play," discusses Jean Piaget's work on cognitive adaptation, discusses creativity in the context of cognitive adaptation, and proposes designs for play environments to produce behavioral adaptation that…