Wood and play value
The material selection and the decision to use particular procedures in the manufacture of our equipment is a conscious decision to increase the play value.
Play value
Play value is not an easily defined quality, and can only be approached through the observation of children.
- Do they play frequently and intensively with the equipment?
- Does the equipment trigger a sequence of play activities?
- Are the children having fun and enjoyment?
- Is their need to play being satisfied?
Wood increases the play value
This and more are criteria for evaluating play value. We are convinced that wood significantly increases play value.
Wood appeals to the senses
Wood is a friendly, pleasant material. As an organic building material it differs substantially from metal or plastic; it appeals to the senses.
Children absorb the whole world around them. A child sees, hears, smells, feels, perceives and does this without differentiating or deliberating.
Wood combats dulled senses
Wood gives the child’s senses something to do. Therefore it works against the dulling process which children are exposed to for a variety of reasons and which cause the senses to wither.
Seeing – wood is interesting
It has:
- different structures
- various shades of colour
- signs of growth
- traces of workmanship
Feeling · touching · smelling – wood can be touched
- irregular surfaces
- changeable surfaces
- temperature
- moisture
- surface structure
Spatial awareness – wood provides rooms
which are perceived by children as such, and terms such as house, tower etc. can be used for them.
Spatial structuring
through its physical nature wood structures the play areas.
Discovering the environment – wooden equipment enables children to understand its makeup
Children want to know everything; their natural curiosity helps them to discover their natural environment. The junior discoverer can clearly see in our wood constructions how everything fits together and even recognise how something works through closer examination. Wood constructions are often suitable for making solutions understandable through their simplicity.
