NParks Biophilic Playgarden Plan to enable every preschool child to enjoy benefits of connecting with nature

-Design guidelines for developing biophilic playgardens for children will be produced

-Research will commence at the test site, Nature Playgarden at HortPark

-Biophilic playgardens to be located within reach of every preschool child across Singapore

The National Parks Board (NParks) today announced the NParks Biophilic Playgarden Plan at the opening of Nature Playgarden at HortPark – a site that will serve as a research testbed for developing guidelines for biophilic playgardens in Singapore. Centred upon the concept of “Biophilia” (which is the innate emotional connection that humans have with nature), the Plan was specially conceived with preschoolers in mind, to encourage children to spend more time outdoors to enhance their overall well-being, increase self-confidence and creative expression, and to allow them to reconnect with nature through the design and programming of such biophilic playgardens.

To enable every preschool child to receive the benefits of playing amid nature, a set of design guidelines for creating biophilic playgardens will be produced by early 2020 to aid preschools, government agencies and developers in designing and building such playgardens across Singapore. Beyond the Nature Playgarden at HortPark, NParks plans to introduce more of such biophilic playgardens in other parks and gardens in the next two years. Plans are also in place to enhance existing playgrounds to incorporate biophilic playgarden elements. The Biophilic Playgarden Plan consolidates NParks efforts in integrating play with nature over the years.

What is a biophilic playgarden

Biophilic playgardens are set within nature. These areas use natural materials and comprise curated play features for children to engage in child-directed spontaneous play. The children get to choose what and how to play, amid nature. Such playgardens will encourage creative play and decision making, that would develop a sense of adventure and discovery in children, increasing their self-esteem and independence.

NParks has been working over the years to engage children by integrating play with nature through park design and programming. Playgardens designed with more natural elements, such as Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, have pockets of play area set in nature, where children are able to come in contact with plants and observe animals while they explore the play areas. Another example is Admiralty Park, where the design of the playsets capitalises on the natural undulating terrain. Programming to integrate learning within nature for families and children include guided nature tours and gardening workshops.

New evidence-based guidelines to be developed based on on-site research

One goal of the Biophilic Playgarden Plan is to encourage educators and developers to build such playgardens. Thus one component of the Plan is the development of evidence-based guidelines in consultation with the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC), based on on-site research that is starting at the Nature Playgarden at HortPark today and targeted to complete in end 2019. The research will gather information on how users are engaged with nature in the biophilic playgarden as well as feedback from caregivers. The guidelines also incorporate design principles drawn from literature review, Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Nurturing Early Learners framework and existing unstructured play areas in countries such as Japan and United States of America. To facilitate implementation of the biophilic playgardens, the guidelines will include a varied list of suitable plants, materials as well as design options to suit different site conditions and requirements.

Preschools can also use the guidelines to get ideas to shape their programmes to encourage more outdoor play in children. From these ideas, preschools can enhance their facilities to allow for more biophilic play programming.

Nature Playgarden – Test bed for biophilic play area design principles

The 0.35ha Nature Playgarden at HortPark has nine different play features implemented with biophilic design principles. Some examples of such design principles are sensory elements that allow children direct connections to nature and natural processes, provide unimpeded view over open landscapes, spaces to hide and withdraw from the main flow of activity, and elements of mystery to pique the curiosity of children.

NParks hosted a workshop in September 2018 to gather ideas and suggestions from parents and staff from preschools on the design of the Nature Playgarden. In the Nature Playgarden, children can explore a balancing and crossing valley made from logs, hide in a bamboo dome while peeking out to overlook the valley, and work together to build houses and castles using natural materials such as timber cookies, wooden poles, and tools provided. The play features were designed for children to play in a free and unconstrained way with nature.

Biophilic playgardens to be implemented islandwide

Beyond the Nature Playgarden, NParks will be redeveloping the play area at Sengkang Riverside Park using these biophilic design principles. Children can also look forward to new biophilic playgardens at Pasir Ris Park and the upcoming Gallop extension of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. In deciding where to develop biophilic playgardens, NParks will accord priority to locations that are within easy reach of preschool children.

This Plan was announced today by Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development, who opened the Nature Playgarden at HortPark with the planting of the Hill Tristania Tree (Tristaniopsis merguensis) together with preschoolers from NTUC-My First Skool at 505 Yung An Road and PCF Sparkletots Preschools at Joo Chiat Blk 15 and Radin Mas Blk 18.

The launch of this Plan and opening of the Nature Playgarden at HortPark today is timely as the International Day of the Forest falls on 21 March. This year’s theme, “Forest and Education”, ties in with the aim to bring children closer to nature through biophilic playgardens.

Information accurate as of 19 March 2019