Kids dig good design and architecture matters to them

Let your emotions and senses serve as honest guides and ask yourself, "how do I feel"?

Wherever you're sitting right now, take a moment to observe your surroundings. Get a sense of the light and the landscape of the room. Note the colours and textures. Take a deep breath and fix yourself within the space. Listen to the commotion - or silence - around you. Let your emotions and senses serve as honest guides and ask yourself, "how do I feel"?

This is the first question asked by architectural philosophy.

In its infancy, architecture's role was to domesticate nature and provide us with shelter, but it soon took on more significant meaning. Today, great architecture reflects a society's values while helping us understand our ideal selves more clearly. Its most profound influence may be felt in our own homes, for the intimacy of a home is emphasised by its invitation to all the human senses. From the thoughtful design of our living rooms, which embrace us and draw us close, to the walls and windows that make us feel safe and inspire reflection, there is so much to take in. For children, the home is a sanctuary as they take their first steps in a world that, without architecture to support them, is far too big to grasp.

We know this intuitively, so before our children ever utter a word, we begin carving out spaces exclusively for them, inviting them to become a part of the home in ways they can accept, in dimensions they feel comfortable to explore. Through a series of impulsive ventures, guided only by their intuition and the five senses, our children absorb a tremendous amount of information. In many ways, our home is their first school, with their senses as their first teachers.

Soon enough the time comes to select a nursery or primary school. Today, many early years' schools follow established approaches to learning like Reggio Emilia and Montessori, both of which build their environments with clear, child-centric values as a cornerstone. Children are given the freedom to float between settings, follow their own interests and set their own pace. There are endless opportunities to learn in these environments, encouraging a more active form of engagement. These environments are quietly shaped by the architecture they exist within and, just as before, parents must consider how the space impacts their child's development.

The first step might be to understand how a school's philosophy is reflected in their spaces. Does the classroom and wider environment allow children to explore and investigate freely, or does it restrict autonomy and self-reliance? The versatility of a classroom, such as sliding walls, as well as how well it links to the spaces outside help us to gauge the extent of independence child is likely to experience.

We should also look at the basic features of the environment. Is there enough natural light flowing through the rooms and halls? Are the outdoors accessible or even visible to the children at all times? Early years' education is built on developing the child's self-understanding and self-awareness, and nature is crucial to this. Natural materials like wood are much safer and more enriching for a child than plastics, and natural light is vital to the biological clock and building a connection to the outdoors.

Finally, it's worth considering the dimensions and scale of the classroom and school. Larger schools create more distance between classrooms and the rest of the facilities, which may affect the school's sense of community. Poorly planned layouts show themselves most acutely when children transition from one room to another, such as from classroom to gym. Confined halls and poorly placed common areas eventually render them little more than passageways, restricting valuable opportunities to socialise with other children outside their immediate circles.

For parents making their first foray into selecting a nursery or primary school, it can feel like a momentous task. It can feel like we are entering the unknown, but understanding the environment helps a great deal in identifying the right school. The best classroom trusts the child to manipulate it freely, and the child in turn finds comfort and the confidence to do so. The wider school setting should continue this approach as much as it feasibly can. As parents, we need to keep this in mind and continually ask ourselves, what is this space trying to teach our child?


letters@khaleejtimes.com
Zeena is co-founder of Creative Nest Nursery. Mum of 4, she likes to push her limits at the gym