One of Play Australia's key aims is to promote better design in playgrounds.

Playspaces that are safe and innovative, and encourage developmentally appropriate play experiences for children.

Design at a glance

Planning how we use our spaces effectively and efficiently also adds to the quality of outdoor play. We need to set spaces that provide opportunities for a variety of play and to meet a variety of play styles.

Children need spaces for:

• challenging activities such as balancing, climbing high, tunnelling, jumping, swinging from arms and by legs;
• sensory play opportunities that include sand, mud, water, pebbles, stones, sawdust;
• hiding away, making cubbies and campsites, having picnics;
• meandering up a shady path, stopping off to pick flowers or watch a snail;
• sitting with a friend to talk or play with dinosaurs or butterflies;
• meeting as a group to sing songs, listen to stories or play games;
• imaginative play environments with small dolls, teddies, jungle animals, blocks etc.;
• pretend work such as laying drains, washing clothes or building tunnels as well as real work such as gardening, sweeping and raking; and,
• running, ball games, chasing bubbles, pushing and pulling, rolling and spinning and riding wheel toys.

The aim of the Play Network is to allow the public to view what inspirational play spaces can look like and hopefully educate those viewers. To make this space a great resource for everyone we need your help.

Do you know of great open public play spaces in you area, an early childhood service that would like to feature as a case study, community spaces that everyone should know about?

Contact us and let us know, we would like to create a database of great play spaces around Australia.