Designing Outdoor Play Spaces for Children

by Laura Henry Kukulski Terralinda Design, Oakland, CA — by **Laura Henry Kukulski**
Terralinda Design, Oakland, CA

When designing a residential garden for a family with young children, we have amazing opportunities to create space for children to play.

Play space can be integrated seamlessly into any landscape design. Outdoor play for children is not just about large lawns or big expensive play structures. In many places around California, lawns are not a possibility, as well as not advisable, and many people do not have space for large structures. But that is fine! There are so many other ways that children play! A good play space provides room for physical, social, dramatic, cognitive play, and can invite many kinds of spontaneous activity.

It can be hard to know what exactly a child will engage and play with, especially if you have only met them once or twice. You should get some basic information about a child’s personality from the parents. Ask questions like: is your child more prone to active play or imaginative play? Do they seek out sensory input, have big energy, or like to create with their hands, or do they seek out quiet spaces for contemplative play?

Aim to create spontaneous, organic play for kids by including natural elements that allow for undirected and open-ended play. Such as:

SWINGS, HAMMOCKS, AND PATHS

Photo courtesy of Janet Bell, FAPLD.

Photo courtesy of Grow Outdoor Design.

Photo courtesy of Patricia St. John, FAPLD.

Photo courtesy of Grow Outdoor Design/Katrina Coombs.

TREES FOR CLIMBING

Photo courtesy of Stephanie Bartron, FAPLD.

Photo courtesy of Laura Henry Kukulski.

Photo courtesy of Mary Fisher, FAPLD.

ELEVATION CHANGES (ROCK WALLS, BOULDERS, SWALES AND HILLS) FOR PHYSICAL PLAY

Photo courtesy of Daderot.

Photo courtesy of Kathy Oberg.

Photo courtesy of Cynthia Tanyan.

MUD KITCHENS AND PLAY HOUSES FOR SOCIAL PLAY

Photo courtesy of Cynthia Tanyan.

Mud Kitchen at Hanna Fenichel Center for Child Development in Solana Beach, CA. Photo courtesy of Anne-Emilie Gold.

Photo courtesy of Laura Henry Kukulski.

FAIRY GARDENS AND COZY HIDDEN SPACES FOR READING A BOOK
ALLOW FOR QUIETER, MORE CONTEMPLATIVE PLAY

Photo courtesy of Kathy Oberg.

Photo courtesy of Mary Fisher, FAPLD.

Photo courtesy of Nicholas Walker, FAPLD.

MOVING PARTS (BLOCKS, STICKS, PEBBLES, OR WATER) FOR COGNITIVE PLAY

Photo courtesy of by Patricia St. John, FAPLD.

SENSORY INPUT (SOUNDS, COLORS, TEXTURES AND SCENTS)
THAT CAN BE BE CREATED WITH PLANTS

Add these element seamlessly into a design so that the landscape can grow with the children. For example a gardener's mulch path through a garden bed provides hiding places and a running path for kids and maintenance access for adults. Water retention basins (rain gardens) are a way to manage rainwater and can be a place for kids to observe wildlife, seasonal changes, and provide loose parts to play with.

All of these are elements in any normal residential landscape design. By thinking in terms of how a child will use the space, you can enhance their experience.

SOME OF LAURA’S FAVORITE RESOURCES:

Planning for Play by Lady Marjory Allen of Hurtwood — **Planning for Play** by Lady Marjory Allen of Hurtwood

Plants for Play by Robin C. Moore — ***Plants for Play*** by Robin C. Moore

Children’s Garden Book by Olive Percival — **Children’s Garden Book** by Olive Percival

An Outdoor Classroom by Steen B. Esbensen — **An Outdoor Classroom** by Steen B. Esbensen

Natural Playscapes by Rusty Keeler — **Natural Playscapes** by Rusty Keeler

Designing Outdoor Environments for Children by Lolly Tai, Mary Taylor Haque, Gina K. McLellan, Erin Jordan Knight — **Designing Outdoor Environments for Children** by Lolly Tai, Mary Taylor Haque, Gina K. McLellan, Erin Jordan Knight

Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv — **Last Child in the Woods** by Richard Louv

Sharing Nature with Children by Joseph Cornell — **Sharing Nature with Children** by Joseph Cornell

Children's Special Places: Exploring the Role of Forts, Dens, and Bush Houses in Middle Childhood by David Sobel — **Children's Special Places: Exploring the Role of Forts, Dens, and Bush Houses in Middle Childhood** by David Sobel

A Child's Garden: 60 Ideas to Make Any Garden Come Alive for Children by Molly Dannenmaier — **A Child's Garden: 60 Ideas to Make Any Garden Come Alive for Children** by Molly Dannenmaier

Not pictured:

Asphalt to Ecosystems by Sharon Gamson Danks
Playground for Young Children: National Survey and Perspectives edited by Sue C. Wortham and Joe L. Frost

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