Ideas to consider for creating an Indoor Play Space for Children......

Architectural Design Perspective shared by Ar Rinka D'Monte

The outbreak of Covid-19 restricted us to our homes, affecting people of all age groups in our day-to-day activities. It changed our regular routine of work, college and school; of children especially, as outdoor play areas had to be prohibited due to social distancing. As digital media heavily took over to become the source of communication and entertainment during this time, similar progression was seen in the play activities of children. Things brings up the emergence of indoor play spaces that cater to the child’s need of cognitive and social development.

Over the years, urban nuclear families have gained their prevalence and have continued to shape our social development. Studies and researches conducted on the negative effects of such urban nuclear families show increase in the social isolation among children. ​

​Being around children of the same age group encourages conversation through story-telling and songs with a common vocabulary, which is engaging and stimulating for the kids. As interaction in these nuclear families tends to be limited to parental or guardian, children turn to televisions and other digital media for entertainment that highly increases their screen time. Similarly, as cities continue to sprout high rise buildings, they further contribute to the decrease in the child’s social development due to isolation. Moreover, there also exists a lack of diversified activities of play spaces and their design, as opposed to the recurring array of the colorful play equipment seen in most of play spaces for children of all age groups. While outdoor spaces provide the area for a child’s interaction and play, they can be limited due to conditions like weather, especially for Mumbai during Monsoons. In this scenario, indoor play areas can help in bridging the gap between inaccessible outdoor play spaces, that cater to children of different age groups and their development. 

Indoor play spaces provide a constructive substitute to children’s activities when outdoor areas are inaccessible, allowing children to continually remain active. Following are some points to consider for creating indoor play spaces for children​

1. Theme – The structural design of play areas catering to children must most definitely be of sound construction with measures taken to ensure the integral stability of the building. But it doesn’t end here. These spaces need to be further designed with a concept or a theme that have unique characteristics that add to the play of the space. Spaces that children feel connected to have a long-lasting impact on their memory that provide a fulfilling experience.  

Variety in such interactions provides newer experiences which helps in their overall cognitive development.

​​2. Uncluttered Space – A space that allows the kids to move freely in their surroundings without obstructions not only gives them the freedom to explore but also refines their motor skills. It is essential to create this ​balance with the play equipment instead of overloading the play area with various activities. 

 3. For various age groups - Children of different ages are at different physical and perceptual development levels and hence play spaces designed to cater to specific age brackets provide a suitable play experience. For example, children between the 6-12 months of age require a clear zone where they can crawl, walk or stand on with supports, whereas spaces for children of 2-5 years of age can have ladders and climbers with low platforms. It is essential to understand the child’s various growth stages according to their age while curating play spaces. 

4. Color Palette - The choice of the colors of the interior space in a play area is crucial. As colors provide the visual stimulus for kids and are commonly used as an attraction, too many colors in the same environment can create confusion. 

​They can also be distracting as it can take away the focus from the activity which affects the attention of the children. Making use of minimal or selective colors that are subtle can help in retaining the cognitive memory of the space and the activity while also adding the pop of color to the play area.

​5. Basic Amenities – Along with play zones, it is also important to have other supporting zones that help in the overall functioning of the play area. As play in these spaces mainly involves physical activity, it is crucial to have washrooms and changing rooms along with designated lockers spaces to store their belongings. Additionally, a cafeteria or a pantry is also important as catering services are evidently required in play spaces. Considering all factors, these spaces must strictly comply to government norms and safety regulations as it is of utmost importance in all areas, especially in children’s play spaces. 

​ 
Children love to play with their peers and connecting to their environment through various activities. Play combined with a learning theme can be a useful way to enhance the cognitive development of children. As children progress, hands-on practice of day-to-day life activities become essential for their development. Hence, apart from play activities, these play spaces can then cater to various workshops for art, cooking and story-telling or book readings for children that enhance their skillset with respect to values like sharing, patience and collaborative learning. Indoor play spaces hence can function as multi-dimensional spaces of learning and play for children.