The importance of play is a primary design driver for us at Greenwood Associates when creating landscapes for childcare facilities. Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development and it is through play that children at a very early age engage and learn to interact with the world and landscape around them. We try to assist children’s curiosity about nature by incorporating natural play features that play a central role in creating rich and stimulating outdoor experiences. We go beyond simply planting trees, shrubs, and flowers and attempt to balance natural and built features to create a landscape that is safe, nurtures and improves children’s health and well-being and enhances the use of the outdoors for an inquiry into nature and play-based learning.
