UFC 4-740-14
1 August 2002
CHAPTER 6
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AREAS
6-1
INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE. In the Outdoor Activity Area, provide
outdoor play activities for infants, pre-toddlers, toddlers, and Preschool age children.
Design the outdoor play area not simply as a place for "recess" but to support a
program of activities and be conducive to creative play. To the degree that climate
permits, design the Outdoor Activity Area to accommodate many indoor activities--it is
an extension of the interior activity room space. The Outdoor Activity Area is a
supervised environment, so design to the highest standards of safety. The play
program encourages children to interact with the environment, each other, and the
caregivers either in free play or through planned and structured activities. Design the
play environment to allow a wide range of movement; stimulate the senses; offer
novelty, variety and challenge; and be safe and comfortable. Ensure novelty
incorporating both simple and complex features. Incorporate textures such as sand,
water, grass, flowers, trees, and smooth rocks (and other artifacts of nature) within the
natural environment. Incorporate manufactured textures of wood, metal and plastic as
well as elements that respond when acted upon within the play environment. Design
the play environment to be open to many interpretations and uses in order for the child
to exercise his or her power to manipulate it. Do not design the environment to impart
preconceived notions of how to act or respond to the surroundings. With appropriate
supervision, children will actively manipulate, transform, dismantle, and re-create the
environment in order to learn about the makeup of the world.
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UNIQUE CDC REQUIREMENTS. The following elements may be unique
to the Military CDC.
6-2.1
Supervision. To reduce the potential for child abuse, arrange playground
areas to permit views into the playground from within the CDC and from outside the
playground fencing. Do not create blind spots or hidden areas within the playgrounds.
Thought must be given to providing sufficient "openness" for adult visual supervision of
children at play, avoiding areas where unsupervised mischief or child abuse can occur.
Control all access points to the play area and design them to be readily visible for
security purposes. Do not allow large structures (e.g., storage, super-structure, trees)
to block the view of caregivers.
6-2.2
adjoin the CDC building. Locate the required play area immediately adjacent to the
activity rooms of the children who will use the area and to be viewed from the activity
rooms that they serve. Integrate play areas, to the greatest extent possible, into the
overall design of the center. Ideally, design the indoor and outdoor spaces
simultaneously so that a proper link can be made to join the two spaces. Use this link to
provide easy entry and exit for transporting materials, wheelchairs and infant strollers.
Provide some covering such as an awning, canopy or porch for shade and partial
shelter. (See Section 6-5 for more information on shade structures.)
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