Designing Places for Health and Play – 24 April 2010

Image courtesy of the Daily Mail

The above image struck me when I first saw it a couple years ago. I grew up on nearly 70 acres, and we went everywhere. So much has changed since I was a kid … at least the perception of things has changed. I’m not sure whether society is less “safe” than it was, but the perception of society has certainly changed.

From the Belvedere blog:

Is it important for children to play unsupervised in nature?

Can we design play spaces that encourage freedom to roam in residential neighborhoods, community parks, schools, and childcare centers?

What are the child health and developmental costs of not doing this?

How can nature play contribute to learning, community identity, and growth of social capital?

Come find out at a public talk and workshop by landscape architect and nature-based educator Robin Moore and other staff of the Natural Learning Initiative.

Designing Natural Play Spaces for Healthy Children and Planet, Saturday, April 24, 2010 will teach about approaches to better children’s health through designing natural play spaces.

Moore’s public talk, Free Range Nature Play: Designing for Healthy Development of Children and Planet is scheduled for Friday, April 23, 2010. Both events are being held at the Mountaintop Montessori School, 305 Rolkin Rd., Charlottesville, VA 29911.