Indoor Playground
The main issue we set out to execute through our project, the Indoor Playground, was to provide a safe environment for the client, Rose, which would provide sensory stimulation and activities to encourage her body to regulate in an appropriate, and engaging manner. Mary, Roses' mother, wanted an indoor space which Rose could use to equalize her sensory system as well as practice fine motor and communication skills. This indoor space contains different activities to fulfill her daughters needs all within a compact area. Some activities that Mary wanted to implement included a climbing spot, a swing or hammock, and other toys relating to shapes, letters, and colors.
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After meeting with both mother and daughter on December 8th, 2021, we were given general information on Rose’s medical history, and examples of products that Mary thought might be helpful. After the meeting, the following points were deemed the most important implementations of the final product:
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A safe environment for climbing, so as to prevent undesirable climbing
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Sensory stabilizing devices
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Multiple toys and activities to entertain Rose, which are focused on improving verbal and fine motor skills
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Small enough to fit comfortably within their garage
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Safety
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Moreover, after carefully considering our options, we decided to create a small indoor playground for Rose. While the space is mainly for Rose, it can also be used by her slightly older siblings. This will allow Mary to spend less time correcting Rose’s behavior and allow Rose more quality time to interact with her siblings.
The Prototyping Process
P\Prototype 1
Prototype one consisted of a cardboard mockup of the final layout for the play space and sketches of the activities we would like to include. The construction plans during this phase involved an elevated twin bed frame with a ladder and slide attachment. The main features of this prototype are the slide, ladder, hammock, and the upper section of activities.
After discussing this prototype with Mary, she provided feedback of changes she would like to see. These changes included attaching the hammock in a way where Rose could not easily detach it, adding more safety features to the upper section, and expanding the platform that connects the slide to the bed. Taking this feedback into consideration, our group decided to incorporate higher safety railings to the bed and slide, along with stronger clips for the hammock attachments. Lastly, the final changes that were made during the development of prototype one, which are illustrated in prototype two, are swapping the tic-tac-toe game for alphabet tiles, and removing the steering wheel for the gear’s activity.
Prototype 2
For prototype two, our group designed each of the games that would be created and attached to the play space. We developed the layout of each game, along with solid modeling for the gears and shapes. During this phase the general construction plans remained the same as in prototype one.
We implemented the changes that Mary had suggested and attached the hammock in a way where Rose could not easily detach it. We added more safety features to the upper section and slide by creating a higher safety rail, and a mesh canopy. Additionally, we covered the hammocks attachment points to prevent them from coming untied. The final changes that were made during the development of prototype two as mentioned above, and shown below, are swapping the tic-tac-toe game for tiles that have animals and letters and removing the steering wheel for the gear’s activity.
Alphabet Tiles
Shapes
Gears
Attachable Components for the Final Product
For the final product, instead of using gears with holes for detachable pegs, as shown in prototype two, each gear has a solid base with a peg extruded out of it. There are four different size gears, each corresponding to their own individual color, as can be seen below. Further, this rendition of the Indoor Playground includes six shape blocks (square, circle, triangle, hexagon, heart, and addition symbol), instead of the sixteen from the original design. The alphabet tiles game also needed to be altered in order to fit within the size of the bedframe. The original design included five rows of letters, and six rows of beads, while the final design consists of three rows of alternating beads and letters. Lastly, to add a personal touch to the project we decide to change four of the blocks which had the alphabet tiles branding on them. We sanded, painted, and then attached our clients name, along with the our names, to the blocks with vinyl cricket paper.
Alphabet Tiles
Shapes
Gears
Final Product Assemblage
Overall, the Indoor Playground has turned out to be almost exactly what we had planned for it to be. Each of the games work very well, the shapes and gears require different grip strategies, and the alphabet tiles and shapes will promote educational purposes. We were able to incorporate the hammock that the Mary had request. Yet one thing that we were unable to accomplish was to change the slides base from a triangle to a square; which in the grand scheme of things is a minor detail. Nonetheless, the toy meets the stakeholder needs we set out to fulfil, it fits indoors, provides vestibular stimulation along with practice in fine motor and communication skills, is engaging, durable, safe, easy to maintain, and allows for self-soothing.
Take Aways
The most impactful thing I learned through the process of developing the Indoor Playground is how essential it is to be assertive. During the previous project, I took on the role of the group leader, which pushed me to be more outspoken, and communicate necessary tasks to be accomplished. This time around I was not in such a position, and I realized quite quickly how different the dynamic was for this particular team. With this said, if were to change anything about this quarter, I would try and be more vocal.