Growing Up Green

The Power of Play

Safe Spaces: Inbuilding Inclusivity & Empathy

Designing for Futures in Flux

Amid concerns about worsening childhood mental wellness and the damaging effects of pollution on growing bodies, biophilic design can help create healthier, soothing learning environments. Cocooning kids in greenery not only boosts their physical and mental wellbeing, but also teaches them about natural ecosystems.

Amid concerns about worsening childhood mental wellness and the damaging effects of pollution on growing bodies, biophilic design can help create healthier, soothing learning environments. Cocooning kids in greenery not only boosts their physical and mental wellbeing, but also teaches them about natural ecosystems.

Summary

Growing Up Green

Amid concerns about worsening childhood mental wellness and the damaging effects of pollution on growing bodies, biophilic design can help create healthier, soothing learning environments. Cocooning kids in greenery not only boosts their physical and mental wellbeing, but also teaches them about natural ecosystems.

The Power of Play

Children’s play is a serious matter – research shows it’s essential for kids’ socio-emotional and core skills development. Schools and brands alike are encouraging energetic, tactile, in-real-life recreational time to combat childhood obesity and tech device addiction. We’re seeing this echoed in play for adults, too.

Safe Spaces: Inbuilding Inclusivity & Empathy

Nearly 240 million children globally have some form of disability (Unicef, 2021). Recognising their diverse needs, differentiated instruction is gaining ground as a teaching method and inspiring multifaceted, need-sensitive spaces in turn. Migrant and refugee families represent another vulnerable cohort receiving overdue attention from designers.

Designing for Futures in Flux

Gen Alpha is set to inherit an increasingly volatile world, as the climate crisis (already a major worry for today’s children) converges with the digitalisation of society and geopolitical power struggles. This future calls for agility and resilience – both in the mindsets that kids are taught and the spaces they inhabit.

Published 22 August 2022

Author
Estella Shardlow
8 min read
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Disrupted by Covid school closures and facing a future of climate upheaval, digitalisation and widening inequalities, today’s children are grappling with unprecedented challenges – meaning the environments in which they study and play must evolve, too. We survey how new-era attitudes and concerns are shaping spaces that will help Gen Alpha thrive.

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