Schoolyard Design

In good design, the culture, feel, and built environment of the schoolyard are considered from the lens of well-being and development (rather than fear of injury and liability). Good design doesn't need to be expensive - forethought and intentional design are one of the most effective ways to reduce the common shortcomings of traditional schoolyards: conflict, loneliness, exclusion, bullying, boredom, and behavioural challenges. 

When the right combination of elements are in place, children make friends more easily, interact more positively, include one another, move more, and laugh more often - factors that cascade back into classrooms, homes, and communities. And because for many children—especially those in communities with fewer resources—the schoolyard is their only daily opportunity for play, sport, and social connection, design becomes an issue of equity and inclusion.