Fawcett, Elizabeth, Davis, Paige E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0043-9991 and Denham, Jack ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2539-8292 (2026) "I would love one of these at home": A Photo Voice Study examining an Artist Made Creative Play Space. International Journal of Play. (In Press)

Text IJP Photo Voice Playspace [accepted manuscript].docx - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (4MB)

Abstract

Play spaces have been found to influence child creativity and different types of playscapes can impact child behaviours and how creative they are in an environment. This study examined an artist designed creative play space, Bloom, asking how children's needs were facilitated and how youngsters perceived and interacted with the space. A participatory photo voice method was utilised to foreground children’s sensory and imaginative experiences. Using a child friendly camera, thirty children (11 months–10 years) photographed aspects of the play space that they felt were meaningful. This was supported by caregivers and researcher observation. Reflexive Thematic Analysis generated three themes: Calming Sensory Experiences, A Comforting Hideaway, and New Ways of Conceptualising, and Unlikely uses for Equipment. Findings highlight how sensory-rich features supported emotional regulation; how enclosed spaces facilitated emotional safety setting a foundation for investigative behaviours and curiosity; and how children reimagined resources in novel ways, revealing agency. The findings will be discussed in reference to the physical and psychological implications of the space as well as future research potential around playscape design and co-creation centred on child voice.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	In Press
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
School/Department:	School of Humanities
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/16332

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