We are tasked with creating an indoor play structure to fulfill a child’s sensatory and developmental needs.
We are designing an indoor structure for a child with developmental and sensory needs. This child is sensory seeking and enjoys the outdoors and spending time in nature. Our goal is for the structure to emulate this setting in a safe, weather-independent space. This structure will also be used to enhance the child’s gross motor skills using climbable portions. The child is also not interested in typical toys, instead preferring things like river rocks and sensory beans. To design for this need, we are looking to integrate sensory bins into the design that can be interchanged. The parents also expressed the want for a cuddle box style space where the child can go in times emotional stress and overstimulation. This cuddle box will also need to be able to accommodate the child as well as a parent or therapist. This structure will also have to be durable, padded, and easy to clean.
Outside of Structure
–Plywood base
-Polyurethane cover around padding
-Protective foam padding
-14 ft x 10 ft x 9 ft space
-Nature themed
-Slide and stairs child can use to climb and slide down on structure
Inside of Structure
-Cuddle box style space
– Space must be large enough to accommodate two people in the box at once
-Ceiling of interior includes lighting with constellation figures
-Sensory and stimulation activities which can include rocks with water, kinetic sand, etc.
-Curtains/door to block out exterior lighting
-Sound system that includes nature themed sounds like birds chirping, frogs, water running, etc.
When designing this play structure, the child’s safety and wellbeing are the most important factors to consider. Through research online about different play structures, the American Society for Testing and Materials states that the playground standard for a platform for the child’s age is up to 12 inches. Since the parents want the structure to grow with the child, detachable safety rails can be added. These provide extra protection now but allow more freedom and stimulation as the child gets older.
The top of the structure must be able to withstand between 150 to 250 pounds. Designing for this load range ensures the structure remains safe and durable over time. For the base, plywood is a consideration because of its strong and versatile characteristics commonly used in heavy duty furniture. It can support 110 to 150 lbs. per square foot, which meets the weight requirements while allowing flexibility for design. For the padding around the structure, ethylene vinyl acetate foam is widely used for indoor play structures because of its soft and protective features. This foam is usually covered with a polyvinyl chloride or a durable polyurethane coating. These materials are durable, easy to clean, and waterproof with is important for the parent’s needs for wanting to clean it routinely and easily.
The inside of the structure will also be covered in this padding, but the ceiling will have a light structure in the form of a constellation. The best approach is to use a fiber optic star ceiling kit because they are safe for kids as they are low voltage and do not produce heat. These kits also allow any pattern to be created, which is ideal to create constellation effects.
This design is an example of a modular design for the play structure. Its modules (Stairs, sitting space, and slide, colored in orange, green, and blue, respectively) will be able to separate to move into their final space. This design features similar materials, including a plywood base covered in protective PU leather for safety and ease of cleaning. Storage space is available inside the stair and slide modules for any of the child’s sensory bins. Possible improvements may include alteration of module sizes to better accomodate another person in the space, and some kind of fixed toy or bin at the top of the stairs to encourage climbing.
This design meets the sensory needs of the child by incorporating structural and play features. The main structure has two entrances to a safe cave, and a ramp leading to the top to encourage gross motor skills. Along with the structure, there are multiple sensory stations featured such as noise buttons, material trays, and replaceable buckets to put play materials in.
This design focuses of the “storytelling” of the project. This takes a base play structure shape with two triangle slopes to create a tree shape. The outside is also decorated to look like a tree while still being durable. The inside of the tree will also house the starfield cuddle box idea that the mother pitched to us.
