Cognitive and physical development are important processes occurring from birth to the end of adolescence as they prepare people for the autonomy that comes with adulthood (Ginsburg, 2007). Currently, there are several research initiatives exploring how different aspects of a child’s environment affects development at different stages. One such example is the Vancouver based Child & Family Research Institute’s CHILDS Play program, Creating Health Inspiring Landscape Designed Spaces for Play, which examines children’s need for risky outdoor play opportunities (Child & Family Research Institute, 2013).
The quality of play spaces can be determined by factors such as presence of natural elements, perception of neighbourhood safety, and a variety of affordances of play. The components of an environment, such as the materials and objects present, as well as the space itself, have the ability to provide children with symbolic play experiences, and have the potential to encourage cognitive, social and emotional development (Herrington, & Lesmeister, 2006).
Children have a natural inclination toward risky play, which involves play at “heights, speed, dangerous tools, or near dangerous elements, and where children can get lost” (Brussoni et al., 2012, p. 3136). This natural inclination toward risky play is part of the development process, and as such, keeping children safe in the long run involves letting them take and manage risks (Brussoni et al., 2012). Risk management, then, should be considered in the design process for outdoor play spaces, not with the purpose of eliminating risk for children, but to create opportunities that allow them to assess and take risks.
One tool for informing the outdoor play space design process and play space assessments is the ‘7Cs’. This set of guidelines was developed by the Consortium for Health, Intervention, Learning and Development through a study of existing outdoor play spaces which sought to discover which physical factors contribute to early childhood development and quality play (Herrington et al., 2007). The 7Cs consider a wide variety of design features, from the presence of natural elements and built structures within a play space, to the opportunities available for the meaningful play that contributes to development. The following are the seven defined themes:
Context refers to the small world of the play space itself, the larger landscape that surrounds the center, and how they interact with each other.
Character refers to the overall feel and design intent of your outdoor play space.
Connectivity indicates the physical, visual and cognitive connectivity of the play space itself.
Change involves a range of differently sized spaces, designed in the play area and how the whole play space changes over time.
Chance involves an occasion that allows something to be done; an opportunity for the child to create, manipulate and leave an impression on the play space.
Clarity combines physical legibility and perceptual imageability.
Challenge refers to the physical and cognitive encounters that a play space provides.