Colloquia

Summary

Physical activity is essential for children’s mental health, physical wellbeing and development. However, in recent years, children are engaging in less and less physical activity. Nijha, a Dutch company based in Lochem and supplier in sport and play elements tunes in on the trend in enhancing this physical activity by designing a play structure called “the Monkeybox”.

This thesis explores how children can be encouraged to exercise by designing a play structure in primary school corridors. A broad literature research has been executed regarding play, child development, theories to change behavior, existing literature in designing for play (structures) and existing play structures. This research was followed by interviews with stakeholders and the two experts in stimulating physical activity and children’s play.

The Monkeybox, an indoor play structure designed by Dutch company Nijha is the case example of this thesis. To explore the function and redesign, research interviews with other stakeholders and observations of children using the Monkeybox in a primary school were conducted. Additionally, co-design sessions with primary school children were facilitated to evaluate and redesign the Monkeybox resulting in design recommendations. The results involve a framework of factors that could be taken into account enhancing the physical activity in primary school corridors, taking stimulating play into account and the self-determination theory as a basis. These insights have led to a proposed redesign of the Monkeybox, with proposed elements offering an increased play value.