Children as co-creators - creative and interactive processes in the making of play spaces
This study investigates how children, through participation in a creative and interactive process, can actively co-create their own play-environments. The study is an extension and retesting of the Palette Model, developed in a previous pilot study (Bernsen, 2017), and inspired by the research model, The Mosaic approach (Clark & Moss, 2017). The intention is to refine and saturate the Palette model.
Research on children as co-designers in and for play (Druin, 2002, Skovbjerg, et.al, 2022) has emerged in recent years. Research has shown that form and content of a play space has direct impact on the how children explore and participate in play spaces and with play materials (Nordtømme, 2019, Waterhouse, 2022).
The theoretical framework draws upon Merleau-Ponty’s (1994) conceptual idea of pre-reflexivity, - that the child possesses more than what is verbally expressed.
The study, within a sociomaterial paradigm, was conducted using qualitative design based research methodology. Methods used were participatory observation, photographs, and focus-group interviews with children and staff in two ECECs. The analysis was conducted through deductive qualitative thematic approach (Gilgun, 2019). The study was approved by the Norwegian Centre for Research Data. Written information and written consent were sought from all participants.
The findings in this study suggests a path to a more interactive child-centred process in the creation or design of play spaces. The findings provide an interactive approach to the play design research field and the development of play-space-practices.
Keywords: Interaction, Creativity, Palette Model, Co-creators, Play space.
Research on children as co-designers in and for play (Druin, 2002, Skovbjerg, et.al, 2022) has emerged in recent years. Research has shown that form and content of a play space has direct impact on the how children explore and participate in play spaces and with play materials (Nordtømme, 2019, Waterhouse, 2022).
The theoretical framework draws upon Merleau-Ponty’s (1994) conceptual idea of pre-reflexivity, - that the child possesses more than what is verbally expressed.
The study, within a sociomaterial paradigm, was conducted using qualitative design based research methodology. Methods used were participatory observation, photographs, and focus-group interviews with children and staff in two ECECs. The analysis was conducted through deductive qualitative thematic approach (Gilgun, 2019). The study was approved by the Norwegian Centre for Research Data. Written information and written consent were sought from all participants.
The findings in this study suggests a path to a more interactive child-centred process in the creation or design of play spaces. The findings provide an interactive approach to the play design research field and the development of play-space-practices.
Keywords: Interaction, Creativity, Palette Model, Co-creators, Play space.
Publisert i 31st EECERA ANNUAL CONFERENCE, 2023
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