Connectivity

An outdoor play space is made up of a number of individual zones. Connectivity looks at how these interact with each other. Are there hierarchies of pathways? Does sound transfer from one area of the play environment to another? Can children playing on a piece of play equipment see their friends across the schoolyard?

What is it?

This category indicates the physical, visual, and cognitive connectivity of the play space itself. Connectivity is physical, but it also activates cognitive development, such as the way a hierarchy of pathways can orchestrate movement in a play space and helps children understand that space.

What to do?

Every effort should be made to link the outdoor play space with the inside play space. Centres that had direct physical and visual connection to their outdoor play space from inside used the outdoors more frequently than those centres that lacked this connection. The design team should also determine the different pathways that will accommodate different forms of mobility.