To : From : Date :

Kyung Hee Housing & Interior Dept. Dewi Ratih Megawati 2012, 11th April

Subject : Project Proposal Contact : dewiratihmegawati@yahoo.co.id Phone +6221808881415 Cell phone +62816795944

Project Proposal Communal Play Space In Low Income Flats : Promoting Pre-School Children Creativity trough Role Play
1. Background Play is an expression of our creativity, and creativity is at the very root of our ability to learn, to cope, and to become whatever we may be. Fred Rogers Children have the rights to live, grow, develop and participate normally as the common human rights, and also have the rights in the protection from abuse and discrimination. (Indonesia Children Protection Law No. 23/2003, article 4). Children are the key role for a countrys future generation. Physical Environment directly affect in forming children development. Play activities also has positive impact in promoting children development. In order to promote children development, play activities should be provided to give the children opportunity to play in better environment. Indonesia has become the part of Child Friendly Cities (CFC) Program which is the embodiment of UNICEF Child Convention. Some of the children rights which related to environment setting according to CFC such as: Walk safely in the streets on their own Meet friends and play Live in an unpolluted environment

This research will become the supporting element in strengthening CFC project trough housing and environment design and perspectives. A better environment that suitable for children development hopefully be more defined after concluding this research to elaborate with another criteria which aiming in the success of CFC. Pre-school Children The first three years are what Piaget calls the sensorimotor period, where infants and toddlers learn through sensory exploration. The first three years of a child is critical for brain development. This is the time when the brain cells establish and learn trough life experience. This brain cells control the children behavior, thought and feeling. Although parents pass the genes to their children but environment play major role in developing a childrens personality.

Play and Children Development There are relation between play and children development. Play is one of the media for children to understand the environment. Play is also the media for parents and teacher to observe the development of their children. There are three ways to consider play in connection to development (Johnson, Thomas, and Yawkey, 1999, 42): That play reflects development. Play can simply serve as a window on development for teachers, parents and other caregivers to observe that a childs development is concurrent with what should occur at that age. That play can reinforce development. Play can be a medium to experiment with and practice developmental acquisitions, such as the ability to count or run. That play can result in development. Play can generate qualitative improvement in a childs life or development.

Play and Creative Development Creativity is part of the cognitive development. A study conducted in 1978 showed that childrens cognitive function appeared to operate short term on an elevated level after play activities rather than non-play activities (Johnson, Christie, and Yawkey, 1999, 45). Since play is an essential issue for the brain growth and development, so that play will likely impact to creative development as well. For supporting human creativity, it has been pointed out that it is significant to develop creative thinking that is related to the transforming of concepts (Bodmen 2004). Creative thinking is comprehended as conceptual space (Gardenfors 2000). Communal Play Space and Creativity According to some research there are relation between environment and children creativity. Mellou suggests that young childrens creativity can be nurtured through educational settings in three respects: the creative environment, creative programs and creative teachers and ways of teaching. Measuring Creativity Measuring young children creativity should apply broad and democratic understanding since each child is considered to be potentially creative. Moreover the creativity assessment may emphasize the creativity process rather than the product itself. This is because children have not developed all the skills which are needed to produce creative outcomes. Some of the method to observe creativity is trough play activities. Imaginative play (especially role play) and free choice of activities would seem to be key components of the early childhood setting in relation to creativity. Russ who develop the model which explain there is relation between creativity and psychology. One of the psychology aspects which is emotional process describe that in order to express creativity, children should have the attributes which is emotional fantasy in play.

2. Problem Statement The action to create city which apply the CFC criteria still limit in providing of playground in the city level. There have not been deeper research and initiative to develop better environment for the children from the smallest scope which is house. Play space for children especially for the low income society still consider to be in poor condition and lack of child development issues concern.

3. Project Objectives Development is the gaining of skills in all aspects of the childs life. This project is proposed to initially understand the relationship between design character of a space and children creativity development. Indonesia has developed pilot projects in numerous city since 2006 as an effort to actualize Child Friendly Cities project. The overall aim is to improve the standards of playing area for the children in the daily basis as local support in the Children Friendly City UNICEFS program(CFC).

4. Research question What are the physical characters of a play space which promote childrens role play activity? The following

question would be; Where do children play? Do the children do role play? Do while children play the parents stay to look after them? What is the type of layout of the communal play space? How about the size and the material? What kind of place which located around the communal space? Do the children use property from the setting? How do they use the property? What type of role/character do the the children play? Are there any accesses to natural environment? What physical aspect that makes the children want to play there? Sample of Observation Report Type of Role Play Total Children Involved Supplies and Property Size and Layout

5. Methodology The approach of this research is descriptive research and will use case study for the research design. To observe the children, this research will use the natural setting. The settings which will be used during observation are communal play spaces in low-income flats.

Due to the existence of other aspects which could impact the child creativity such as education program and teachers teaching technique, the children who are observed will come from the same school and in the same average ages. Another research technique would be survey and interview with parents. Parents will be interviewed to develop further understanding about their relation with their children. The aim is to know how the parents raise their children which could impact to creativity development. Another objective is to gain more detailed information about the children play activities.

6. Significance There are already some architects and researchers who have interest in developing children play space. One of them is Indonesia Universitys lecturer Professor Paramitha Atmodiwirjo who has conducted some projects such as designing library for elementary school children. But, eventually architects and designers who truly focus and dedicate themselves in children development are still rare things in my country. It is an ironic situation while children are the crucial investment for this country. Indonesia has already become the part of creating pilot project of Child Friendly Cities Program(CFC). CFC is a

program which initiated by UNICEF which aim is promoting better environment for children to live in. This project is a great opportunity to give contribution in design field in creating better environment for children. By designing space which promoting children play activity, hopefully could gain the Child Friendly City Program success.

7. Project Value to Indonesia and South Korea Residence Indonesia and South Korea has similarities according to its family culture and the limitation of land. This land rareness and high rate of housing demand will have both positive yet negative impact to children depend on how the principle and designer react to it. Children play huge role in determining every nation future. Designing the appropriate environment for children to grow and develop in supportive condition is an essential key to increase a nation quality. As it written before, to build a strong country investment in child development is a crucial point.

References
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