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Abstract

Objective

The importance of spatial design and its psychological and physical impact on people is receiving increasing recognition and attention among researchers, educators, health–care providers, and businesses. As increasingly more children are in preschools at a younger age, more research is needed to help determine the impact of the physical environment on children's development.

Research Design

In this investigation two intimate spaces or boxes of contrasting designs were installed in an open plan preschool. One box was a “cozy” space and the other a “slick” space as defined by the use of specific interior textures and materials.

Analysis

An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine whether there was any relationship between subject age (3–, 4–, and 5–year–olds) and box type (cozy versus slick) in terms of the average relative time spent in each box type.

Key Findings

Results from this study showed that preschool children used the intimate spaces frequently and stayed in them for varying lengths of time. When both boxes were present in the preschool, a significant interaction at P<0.06 between box type and subject age was observed.

Conclusion

These results support the importance of incorporating intimate spaces into the design of open plan preschools.

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Intimate Space Issues in Preschool Environments

Abstract

Objective

Research Design

Analysis

Key Findings

Conclusion

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References