Abstract
The purpose of this study is to develop the playground environment model for child care center by analyzing user needs of playground environment. To systemize the playground environment design factors and guidelines, we reviewed the previous research, actual measurement and observation were used as the research methodology. And to recognize the needs of users, the survey and picture survey was conducted to the staffs and children. The scope of survey included child care centers in Seoul and Daejeon, ultimately selecting 12 places in Seoul and 13 places in Daejeon. In terms of the survey period, actual measurement was conducted from June of 2006 to February of 2007, survey and picture survey was conducted from August to September of 2006. For analysis, we used SPSS 10.0 to check the frequency and percentage, as well as to perform cluster analysis. The findings of research can be summarized as below: 1. In playground environment, we observed the area of play ground and ground cover, the independence of play area, play equipment, and the composition of play area. The result of observation showed that while playground area varied widely, ground cover, play equipment, and the composition of play area turned out to be identical, regardless of the playground's area. Therefore, in order to classify various playground environments, we categorized them into 5 types, using the number of children and the area of play ground as a category. Type A had large facilities and small playground area. Type B had small sized facilities and large playground area. Type C had medium sized facilities and small playground area. Type D had medium sized facilities but large playground area. Type E had large sized facilities and large playground area. 2. On the other hand, staffs wanted a tunnel, playhouse, comprehensive play equipment, and a maze to be installed as play facilities, and there were requests for adventure play area and carpenter play area. The picture survey to children showed that they wanted equipments that can provide more thrill, adventure and challenge to them than the ones they see now. Therefore, existing child care center play environments must change from the monotonous and identical environments to the ones that can provide diversities, challenges, and adventures. In the contexts of 5 playground types suggested by this research, type B and D, E where the area of playground were larger than the legally required, should include various play areas and install appropriate play equipments and facilities. Type A and C where the area were small, should provide multipurpose play area to attract the various play behaviors of children.
