Explore Waterplay's Play Zones: Designing Splash Pads for All Ages and Abilities
Play is an integral part of childhood development.It is how children learn, develop, and make sense of the world around them. Creating engaging and exciting play experiences for kids is essential to their growth and development of skills in all areas, including cognitive, social, emotional, and physical.
When applying this to splash pad design, Waterplay creates spaces that aren’t limited by age or physical ability but rather are thoughtfully designed to allow Waterplayers to choose their own adventure as they play. With three main action zones often defined in their splash pad designs – Development and Discovery, Exploration, and Adventure – Waterplay looks to inspire, embolden, and energize children around the world by creating environments that foster unique types of play.
The Benefits of Play Zone-Based Design
Designing a splash pad with Waterplay’s play zones in mind helps create a space that fosters inclusive, exciting play opportunitiesfor all ages. They also help enhance safety by breaking down different activity levels by zone. A popular attraction for families around the world, splash pads are the perfect place to cool off during the hot summermonths. Ensuring that your splash pad will appeal to visitors of all ages will help make it a destination that they will come back to again and again.
While smaller children and their guardians may gravitate towards gentler splashes and sprays, more adventurous kids will often rush to the high-energy splashes that come with tipping buckets and other big spray features. Keeping different play zones in mind during the design process helps to create inclusive play experiences for all, regardless of their age or ability.
Development and Discovery Zone
Focused on gentle splashes and a less-stimulating environment, Waterplay’s Development and Discovery Zone is perfect for toddlers and early learners seeking hands-on, imaginative interactions on the splash pad. Aimed at promoting early childhood development through engaging, sensory play opportunities, this zone is perfect for those who are still building confidence in and around the water.
The Development and Discovery Zone provides cognitive play opportunities that facilitate deep learning and flexible thinking for both individual and group play. With features like the Discovery Stream, Waterways, Surf Stones, and Magnif-Eye, Waterplayers can explore all the different ways that water moves. Often situated along the outside perimeter of the splash pad, this zone creates a relaxed space that fosters thoughtful and contemplative play.
Exploration Zone
Waterplay’s Exploration Zone is a dynamic, inclusive space for collective fun! Full of features that spark inquiry and encourage movement, this zone provides a stepping-stone between the discovery and adventure areas, creating a seamless play experience that encourages collaboration. Children can spray, dump, splash, and team up and take on challenges with siblings, friends, and others playing on the splash pad.
Splash pad features such as the Spiral Tunnel, Fellows, Splash Blasters, and Poly Palms create exciting splashes that come from all angles. Children can race through the Spiral Tunnel with friends, challenge one another to splash-offs with the Splash Blaster Cannons, and run under the tall sprays from the Poly Palms as they play. This zone is great for Waterplayers who are gaining confidence in the water and are seeking independent play opportunities.
Adventure Zone
Full of big splashes and non-stop activity, Waterplay’s Adventure Zone is packed full of energy and excitement! Big water effects and continuous action encourage quick-thinking and promotes physical movement. Perfect for Waterplayers looking for the biggest splashes and ultimate thrills, the Adventure Zone is perfect for children looking to challenge themselves and push themselves out of their comfort zone. Usually centrally placed and ready for play, the Adventure Zone is often considered the focal point of the splash pad.
Boasting larger features such as the Rain Cap, Charger, tipping buckets like the Mega Soaker, and the epic Titans, the Adventure Zone is perfect for children who want to experience the thrill and anticipation that comes with big splashes and high energy.
Creating opportunities for kids to engage in free, unstructured play is essential to their development. Designing splash pads with these different play zones in mind helps ensure that children of all ages and abilities will be able to have fun on the splash pad. Whether they’re looking for gentle sprays or exciting splashes, they can choose their own adventure, find play opportunities that work for them and their unique needs, and most importantly, have fun!