Playground Inspiration: Kiddie Academy Mt. Prospect

Kiddie Academy, located in Mount Prospect, Ill., specializes in early childhood education. Therefore, Kiddie Academy needed a play environment that also incorporates academics and creative learning. Grounds For Play (GFP) did just that.

GFP listened closely to the needs of Preeti Gulati, owner of the Mt. Prospect Kiddie Academy, and designed a variety of play areas for the wide age-range of children that attend.

Features incorporated into this play environment:

1. Tot-Trek — This play area dedicated to infants and toddlers ages 6–23 months includes elements for gross and fine motor skill development such as stairs, activity panels, and a slide.
2. STEAM elements — For children ages 2–12, elements of science, technology, engineering, art, and math (referred to as STEAM) brought the classroom outdoors- and incorporated learning into outdoor play. This is one of the most important parts of this project that Gulati wanted to incorporate.
3. Shade — Two shaded play structures that protect the children and they play equipment from the weather.

All elements of this play environment are intertwined so children have the ability to play with each other. This playground includes a science and discovery center, engineering center, musical play, and nature play products.

“The engineering center and science and discovery center are unique features,” Design Consultant Lauren Harrigan said. “They make Kiddie Academy stand out from the other child care centers in the area.”

By focusing our goals around the needs of children, GFP provided the Kiddie Academy with different types of play in their outdoor environment. Physical play was incorporated by the use of rock and bubble walls, stairs, and a basketball court. Physical play is vital to children as they grow because being active strengthens the body and helps develop gross motor skills.

Science and math play is incorporated into this project to give children an understanding that these subjects will always be around them. Incorporating a discovery center and an engineering center helps the children of Kiddie Academy use their imagination while exploring.

Musical play is also integrated into this play environment by providing different instruments like bongos and an amadina. This type of play allows children to express and explore their creativity. Music play helps improve memory, brain power, and develop self-expression.

This complex and unique play environment provided the Mt. Prospect Kiddie Academy multiple benefits. It increased enrollment and advanced a space where children can continue their learning outdoors. By incorporating the different types of play, Kiddie Academy can now creatively teach, and allow children to play while learning.

“Children and parents love the space,” Harrigan said. “It has been a large selling tool for Kiddie Academy as they worked to finalize enrollment before and after opening.”