More from the Wapo interview.
Another insight from my recent interview with The Washington Post: it’s amazing how often kids are better at navigating conflict than we give them credit for. There’s also a design consideration at play here. While observing children at a playground, I noticed that the high points in the play towers naturally became gathering spots. These weren’t just cool lookouts or starting points for epic slides—they became "conference rooms" where kids negotiated the rules of their games. These spaces gave them the opportunity to step away and work through issues independently. --- “As a parent, I want my children to be really inclusive and kind, and so there are times when I’ve stepped in and just pulled them aside and said ‘Hey, this is what I saw.’ And then they can explain themselves a little bit,” Schleicher says. But he’s also aware that an adult’s intervention can turn something minor into a bigger deal. “I think there are also times where it’s important to let children navigate those situations themselves, and you might be surprised by how fast they can resolve conflict.” --- https://lnkd.in/gRmW2XNW #PlaygroundDesign #ChildDevelopment #IndependentPlay #InclusivePlay #OpenEndedPlay #KidsAtPlay #ParentingTips #PlaySpaces #MischiefAndWilde #PlayEverywhere