play aid kit
encouraging FAMILY PLAY AS A HABIT
“HOW MIGHT WE INTRODUCE PLAY IN FAMILY DAILY ACTIVITIES AS A HABIT?”
CASE
Play is the pivotal point for development, for both adults and kids. It is also key in building relationships and connections between children and the adults in their lives. Despite these benefits, time for playing together has been markedly reduced in the recent years.
A three-day internship as a child - as part of the course Child-Centered Design for Play - revealed the three main insights that shaped this design process.
SOLUTION
Play Aid Kit is a tool for families to trigger play in their everyday life activities. The kit, co-designed with kids, encourages every member of the family to create new games to play together as part of their regular activities.
PLAY IS (NOT) INCLUDED:
+ Tokens. The central element of the Play Kit. The idea is to pick one, two, or more, and use them as a trigger to create new games to play together in whichever context they are. Their drawings allow multiple interpretations so players can put their own meaning and inspire new games every time.
+ Inspiration cards. Used as inspiration or ‘back-up games’ for the first times using the Kit, or when there is no time for inventing games. For instance, if we are at the supermarket and we get the little monster and the question mark, we could pretend to be Martians that came to Earth and have to cook for the first time with whatever new things they find.
+ Instructions. Of course there are some instructions! But as the tool, they are open and serve more as an invitation to try the kit out.
+ Parents Guide Book. The guide for parents presents the aim of the Kit, the basis and some easy guidelines.
+ Family Playbook. The family Playbook is both to keep track of the families’ favorite games created, and to record those games that come up in a moment when they can’t play.
+ Package. The package is designed to be easily carried and ready-to-use in different contexts.
“‘You should meet my dad, he works in Lego and is always playing at work’
‘Really? What do you play with him at home?’
‘Oh no, at home he is always working’
”
PROCESS
The kit was created using a complementary approach. The process combined child-centered methods (internship as a kid, children persona, co-creation of children’s life) with relevant literature and theories connecting children (Vigotsky, Erikson), play (Stuart Brown) and design.
In this way, the problem of the significant lack of family play time was spotted. The children perspective provided a better framing and understanding of the challenge and expectations.
A hands-on co-creation with children was held in order to get first-hand insights on the family time and play routines. The session consisted on three different activities and a toolkit designed to facilitate conversations on the topic.
