Brittany BowlesChristopher UdomratsakTonya LaffertyLeticia Mejia Problemy The majority of playgrounds do not do a great job at facilitating imaginative and creative play.y Children need more places to hide.y Children need high and low areas.y Children need more play equipment that promotes fantasy play.MissionyTo provide the best play ground in our school that facilitates the characteristics of play that were earlier mentioned. We want to show the children a new way were they could express the imaginations be more creative.What We Offery The Reggio Emilia way, Levy’s characteristics of play, Functions of playy New and improve playgrounds that facilitate all childreny Playgrounds with more hiding areas for children to get more imaginative.y More high and low areas.What We Offer Cont.y Making sure there is water in the playground, if not a small pool area.y More trees in our playground to create more shadey More flowersy Water fountains within a reasonable distance from one another.y Clean restroomsThe Reggio Emilia wayy Three main componentsy 1. the children y 2. the teachery 3. the environment.y Reggio Emilia believes all children have potential and are capable of constructing their own learning (Isbell, n.d)y Play areas fallowing Reggio Emilia also encourage children to investigate natural phenomena, such as exploring nature in playground. (Hertzog, 2001)y Children in Reggio Emilia Center are encourage to work in groups and to learn from each other (Savoye, 2001)Levy’s play characteristics are:(these are also the characteristics we will act by)ySuspension of realityyIntrinsic motivationyInternal locus of controlFunction of play (more characteristics that our company is based by)y Individuation (Play‐dough, legos, dress –up)y Socialization (group activities, self esteem, board games, sports)y Enculturation (notion of values)y Abreaction & Catharsis (school, home work)y Conceptualization (development of cognition)New Programy We feel that through play children are not only playing but they arey Resolving problems as they play.y Play tells us about whom the child uniquely is, as a constructor of her life history.y Who we are as individuals y Our Development or life histories are important for understanding that we are.Why is this Important?y Every child should be able to enjoy their childhood and have an equal opportunity to play. y Playgrounds that are in cities all across the country are not capable of this now.y With this program we will create these opportunities for all children to be able to playHandicap Accessibley There have been many parents around the country that have started petitions in their own city, county, and state to make all playgrounds handicap accessible. y In July of 1990, the ADA became law. The intent of the Law was that all Americans have the right to access public services and accommodations. Those in parks and recreation recall putting together an action plan to make their facilities, parks and programs accessible. This was a difficult task, especially in the area of playgrounds, because the law did not give direction to serve as a guide for the design and construction process.All children deserve the right to have fun and be able to playProblems with PlaygroundsyPlaygrounds are not built as safe as they could be. In the following slides, you will see what it is that makes playgrounds unsafe for children.Adult Supervisiony Adults play an important role in safety of their children on a playground. y The adult can:y Ensure the child is playing on age appropriate equipmenty Make sure children are not engaging in unsafe behavior on the equipment y Administer any first aid that is needed Surfacey There needs to be a proper surface on the playground in case a child slips or falls off of the equipment.y Bad surfaces include:y Concrete, asphalt, and blacktop are unsafe surfaces, as well as grass, soil, and packed earth, because weather and wear can reduce their capacities to cushion a fally There should be no puddles of water, rocks, tree stumps, tree roots, broken glass, ect. Which are dangerous for children.Surface Cont. y Good Surfaces include:y Loosely filled wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel and shredded rubber, surfacing mats made of rubber are good also, but they must extend 6 feel out past the play equipmenty Proper surfacing does not ensure a child will not get hurt. The higher the play equipment is the longer the fall is for the childDesign and Spacingy Playground equipment should be designed for two different age groups: 2‐5 year olds and 5‐12 year olds, it is best when these two areas are separated and labeledy Guardrails and barriers should be on all elevated surfaces, including platforms and rampsy Structures more that 30” high should be spaced at least 9 feet aparty Swings and seesaws and other moving parts should be separate from the rest of the playgroundDesign and Spacing Cont.y Swings should only be two per bayy Swings should be spaced at least 24” apart and 30” between a swing and the support frame y There should be no spaces that could trap a child's head, arm, or other body party Ladder rungs should measure less that 3.5” or they should be wider than 9”This playground as shown above is a sample of a handicap accessible playground that we plan and build.Designy Our designs cater to all of the special needs of childreny Interactive activitiesy Braily Handicap accessible ramps and swingsy Colorful encouraging equipmenty Safe for everyone to play on This playground as shown above is a sample of a handicap accessible playground that we plan and build.Maintenance and Inspectiony Equipment should always be checked to make sure it is clean and well maintained y To help maintain it:y There should be no broken equipmenty Wooden equipment should have no cracks or splintersy Fences around playgrounds in public should be in good condition so children cannot run out into traffic y Surface should be maintained so it covers all areas of the ground especially in fall zonesy Always check for hardware that could be sticking out, debris an broken parts on toysClimbing Equipment Safetyy Climbing equipment includes rock walls, arches, vertical and horizontal ladders. These kinds of equipment have the highest injury rate y Too many children on the equipment at once in dangerousy Users should start on one side and move in the same direction y Pre‐Schoolers should only climb 5ft up and school age children should only climb 7ft upy