Indoor play objects for bodily play and multisensory exploration through ambiguous shapes

Abstract

TAGO explores designing a play object that enhances bodily movements, symbolic play, and sensory exploration in indoor play for preschool children aged 3 to 6. In this project, product design is combined with child culture design using a participatory design approach to enhance the indoor play experience of preschool children.

This project points out the lack of bodily movements in children’s play in indoor environments. Indoor play often leans towards sedentary activities like drawing, especially when outdoor play space is limited (Sandseter, Storli, Sando 2022). Recognizing the importance of physical activity for children’s overall development, the project sought to encourage bodily movements through playful interactions. Additionally, sensory exploration and symbolic play were prioritized to foster learning and imagination.

This project was initiated by investigating ambiguous ‘donut’ shapes, which are hypothesized to increase ambiguity and affordances in children’s play in an indoor context; different ambiguous shapes are also included in the design iterations.

The outcome of this project will be a designed object that allows open-ended free play by bodily movements in children’s play while promoting symbolic play and sensory exploration through different sizes and surface texture combinations.