HEAD START CENTER DESIGN GUIDE

6.3 Concepts for Play Yard Design

The activity spaces in play yards are largely determined by the play yard's initial landscape architectural features. Individual play areas should offer a range of developmentally appropriate activities for social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development. All play areas should be designed according to the guidelines in the most recent edition of the Handbook for Public Playground Safety by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Best practice indicates that play yards should serve as extensions of classroom spaces, especially where temperate climate allows an easy flow of children and staff in and out of the exterior space. Play yards should be integrated, to the greatest extent possible, into the overall design of the center. Within a central play yard, separate play areas are necessary for Head Start and Early Head Start.

Some states require a separate fenced play yard for infants and toddlers. Even without such complete separation, individual play areas can be developed to serve each of the following age classifications:

• Infants
• Toddlers
• Pre-school children

Within the play areas, spaces should be developed to support and promote each of the following activity types and offer flexibility for many others:

• Sand/water play
• Art activities
• Dramatic play
• Large muscle play

In addition, equipment storage should be directly accessible from the play yard.