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Play Environment Consulting Director Prue Walsh is recognised internationally 
as an expert in playground usage and design. She talks to PWPro about taking 
risks, fighting childhood obesity and overzealous safety standards.

Play Environment Consulting Director Prue Walsh is recognised internationally 
as an expert in playground usage and design. She talks to PWPro about taking 
risks, fighting childhood obesity and overzealous safety standards.

Prue Walsh is an early childhood educator whose work specialises in physical environments in early childhood settings. Not only has she consulted on more than 2000 early childhood centres, schools and public playspaces throughout Australia, but she has also worked on overseas projects. She has a deep practical knowledge of how to deliver play needs in early childhood centres through to public parks and playgrounds.

How did you get into the sector? 
My original background is as an early childhood graduate. It was through this work and in part being married to an architect, that I noticed a very close link between the quality of physical environment and the quality of outdoor play in particular. 

This soon evolved into a greater appreciation of design covering particularly site selections, building and play areas and the interplay between all of these design features. I soon realised that there was an interplay between several disciplines and a need for collaboration that was essential if children’s needs were to be effectively addressed. 

My consulting work has now covered more than 3000 playgrounds both throughout Australia and internationally.

In your opinion, What makes a good playground?
One of the best playgrounds I’ve seen is the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne. It has a natural setting that draws out children’s active engagement where they want to explore and discover what is in the setting. This includes taking calculated risks. 

I have a gorgeous photograph of my grandson walking over boulders in a shallow water pool with reeds around him. He told me at the age of two-and-a-half that was his favourite place. He’s now 11 and very agile, very capable and a very good risk taker. 

The beautiful thing about this photograph at Ian Potter is that there is also a timber railing on the side and at two-and-a-half he was holding onto the railing when he started and then his triumph of the day was going over the boulders without the railing. He showed staged development. 

How can playgrounds be designed to tackle childhood obesity? 
Childhood obesity, I believe, has many causes, but playgrounds and the type of facilities provided can do much to improve the problem. I believe obesity is in part a symptom of a society that has lost sight of children’s needs. I have noticed a marked decrease in obesity and better eating patterns in early childhood centres when playgrounds have been upgraded and more challenging and enjoyable play activities are provided.

You have worked extensively overseas as a consultant. what can be learned from overseas playground developers? 
In Scandinavia and Germany in particular, building challenge and adventure in natural environments is integral to their planning, which is indicative of their greater appreciation of valuing children and wanting to meet their play needs.

You have spoken out about the need for children to takes risks. how can playgrounds develop this skill?
The most important safety lesson a child can ever have is learning to take calculated risks. The peak time for learning this is the early childhood years. 

Today they have created playgrounds with far less challenge in them. Of course, it’s inviting children to take more risks. 

What should councils invest in?
Spend your money on space, first and foremost. I’m sick of people trying to squeeze kids into little boxes. Realise that children need space to run; to tumble; to jump; to stand on their hands; to tussle with friends; and to have settings with varied levels of spaces dominated by natural vegetation.

Settings need to ignite their curiosity, imagination and capacity to dream up different forms of play usage. Councils need to remember that the whole park is potentially the playground, not just a small set aside box of space. They should make sure that people with a high level of expertise in relation to children’s play, which will enhance this play, are actively engaged in the development of all play spaces. 

Think of a child in the urban environment today. The backyards of the past have gone, in many instances, so the need for parks and playgrounds has never been greater.