Spatial Design Assisting Children's Development

Yi, Y. & Whang, H.
Journal of the Korean Institute of Culture Architecture, Vol.36 (11).
G704-SER000010585.2011..36.004

Objectives

This study aims to identify physical settings that promote children’s development, including cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Background

Environments play a crucial role in how children develop. It is vital to provide appropriate environments that promote positive behaviors that influence holistic development.

Methods

Children's behaviors were recorded using place-centered behavior mapping in two libraries with distinctive physical characteristics. A total of 20 observations took place in a 15-minute interval between 10 am - 12 pm, and 2 pm - 5 pm. The total recorded behaviors were 608 and 636 in Library A and B, respectively.

Results

Diverse behaviors, which may facilitate children's development, occurred more frequently in Library B compared to Library A. Library B is characterized by the visual connection between floors, easy access to an outdoor area, open floor, moderate level of background noise, diverse shelving, ceiling heights, and seating options.

Conclusion

The observational data indicate that different environmental settings influence different children's behaviors, suggesting the impacts on child development.

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