Clarity

Children need large, open spaces to facilitate games such as tag and allow freedom of movement. Central to this concept of clarity is not restricting these types of motion through the play environment. Design needs to allow for spaces to be connected, as opposed to breaking the play environment into disjointed zones. Clear entry and exit points, as well as paths, will help to bring a sense of clarity to navigating an outdoor space.

What is it?

Clarity combines physical legibility and perceptual imageability.

What to do?

The design team should ensure that clear entry and exit spaces are provided to the outdoor plays space to prevent accidents.

The soundscape of the outdoor play space should also be considered by the design team. Noisier outdoor play spaces create a general atmosphere of confusion, and stress was noted in both early childhood educators and the children.