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I am currently designing an activity table for children aged 3 - 9yrs for my A2 project and i would like to know what makes children tick: What games do they like best
What keeps them interested
Do they like to play together
All these kinds of questions i need information on. Anything you have particulally noticed about how children like to play, how long their attention span is and what they like doing would be helpful!
Things to consider: affordable, low to the ground, spill proof (or just accept it will get things spilled on it), scratch proof (same as with spills, you may need to accept it).
Other than that, a low table that suits low chairs. What else would you want?
They like to play with their friends. A pile of sticks on the side of the house can be just as fun as a $50 toy.
3 - 9 is a huge age gap. You would almost have to design a changeable table to accommodate toddler / preschool age (they are still transitioning from playing side-by-side to playing together), but then be able to change to a play surface that interests a child who is only a couple years away from middle school.
Are you thinking of a flat table (I'm picturing the ones with a checker board painted on them), or will it be electronic? An interactive table that you could put a tablet into might work for that broad of an age gap...
For games or activities?
One that has things permanently attached to it?
Interchangeable activities?
Layers of tabletops that can be removed or alternated?
Activities only on the top, or on all sides as well?
Video game type table?
If you're designing something for kids to play with occasionally, for example in the doctor's waiting room, then games like tic tac toe and other simple games would work. Anything too simple will cause the older kids to lose interest pretty quickly, but if they're only using it for a little while to pass the time, then simple games are okay.
My 7 year old likes to play poker and pool. She also likes to play just about any game on her tablet.
One thing I've noticed that kids of all ages like to do is draw on a whiteboard. Younger kids can just scribble or draw, older ones can practice spelling words or math problems on it.
One thing I've noticed that kids of all ages like to do is draw on a whiteboard. Younger kids can just scribble or draw, older ones can practice spelling words or math problems on it.
That's actually such an awesome idea. Just attach a whiteboard to the top of a short table, and drop some markers on it. Simple, affordable, and endlessly fun!
That's actually such an awesome idea. Just attach a whiteboard to the top of a short table, and drop some markers on it. Simple, affordable, and endlessly fun!
That would be great. I'd add some small drawers for paper and markers and such, and then to top it off give it a top so that it could be turned into a regular table for eating, playing with playdough, games, etc. Right now we have an easel AND a table, and it takes up way too much space.
Lego base with storage drawers/baskets that slide in and out. Maybe be able to flip the Lego part over for a smooth table/white board.
They make those commercially. I just freecycled mine. Ours had flip open pockets to store the legos in. I don't see any like it online though. It was older, so maybe it has been discontinued. The white board also could stand up like an easel.
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