Some ideas from the Finlandia students

INITIAL IDEAS FROM STUDENTS:

Textured surfaces – important for children with sensory issues. (The drawback – cleaning these surfaces.)

For the same reasons a sand table for the same reason, however difficult to keep clean for the same reason as a sandbox. Though sand can be vacuumed and the advantages seem to out-weigh the disadvantages for a relatively low-cost addition.

Smells can also help in calming children, such as using vanilla or cinnamon potpourri or perfumes to help a child a focus.

It seems important to have a comfortable reading area for children of the proposed age-group as well as someone who knows how to read to children – reading the title and the authors name, as well as the story with an exclamatory attitude helps stimulate development in a child's early comprehension skills.

Wheel chair accessibility is important in the design process for the non-climbing areas. Not only for children who may be physically handicapped, but for the parents who may wish to watch them. Rocco Bertucci

A few links to sites promoting rubber mulch which has been approved by the consumer product safety commission.
http://www.rubberecycle.com/
http://prosites-closetheloop.homestead.com/comp_tiremulch.html
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2009598655_playgroundtires04.html


There are a few organizations that are questioning the CPSC ruling on the safety of rubber mulch saying that not enough testing has been done to consider the rubber mulch safe.
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/06/04-14
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/green/2009/06/safety_of_shredded_tires_on_pl.html

Andrew Blake