A Greenprint for transforming schoolyards as places for student wellbeing

Description

In the face of rising adolescent mental health concerns, schoolyards can be a preventative tool to help students manage stress during the school day. However, it is unclear whether current designs adequately support the diverse and evolving needs of adolescents at a time when they are experiencing rapid emotional and physical change.
This presentation discusses the types of schoolyards we currently have, want and need based on the knowledge and insights of those who know them best. Drawing on evidence collected over three years from schoolyard creators, managers and student users, this presentation aims to:
• Identify restorative outdoor qualities essential for student health and well-being and evaluate the extent to which current schoolyard designs reinforce these attributes
• Explore tools like attention restoration theory to better understand schoolyard preferences and perceptions across different age groups and orientations
• Examine contextual factors influencing schoolyard quality, providing insights for planners, managers and designers to better address specific wellbeing needs of students.
Given the pivotal role of schoolyards in students’ physical, social and emotional development, their design profoundly impacts health, behaviour and school performance. By introducing new metrics that capture user experiences, perceptions and preferences, this research aims to guide improvements in schoolyard design where needed, fostering environments conducive to student well-being.

Period	18 Oct 2024
Held at	Association for Learning Environments, United States
Degree of Recognition	National