An evaluation on the design of play spaces for children's privacy needs in kindergartens

Providing opportunities for privacy in the physical environment is expressed as one of the criteria that should be given importance in the design of educational environments today. In various studies, it is stated that there is a deficiency in the design of miscellanous spaces related to preschool edution children in the light of studies on the need for privacy, and it is pointed out that solutions should be developed in this direction. However, in general neglect of practices in this direction is also criticized. The existence of personal spaces where children meet their privacy needs and perform quiet play activities increases their self-confidence by supporting the formation of their selves and has a positive effect on their development. In this context, in this study, it is aimed to create a resource for the designers of preschool education institutions by creating an evaluation on the reflections of the concept of privacy on playgrounds in preschool education institutions, their spatial qualities and how they shape the physical environment. By associating the personal areas where the children in the pre-school education period perform their silent play activities with the elements that make up the space, they are categorized as two separate groups as interior and exterior, and it is aimed to learn the thoughts of the children on these designs. The fieldwork of the thesis is carried out with the participation of the students of Private Tuna Çakır International Montessori Kindergarten in Bursa, where is applied the Montessori approach, which is known for the importance it gives to the individual needs of children. By conducting group and individual interviews in the study, the views of the children on the designs specified in the interview form are examined. In this context, It is anticipated that this research, in which a participatory approach is adopted, will contribute to the design processes of the playgrounds for the privacy needs of the children in the preschool education spaces. Thus, it is believed that it will provide a resource that sheds light on designers in terms of developing quiet play spaces, which is important to have in preschool education institutions, taking into account to fulfill the needs of children.