Playspace Audit Tool Development & Testing

What are we trying to do or learn?

We are aiming to develop an audit tool that can effectively and reliably assess whether outdoor playspaces provide diverse, high-quality play opportunities for children of all ages and abilities.

Where and with whom?

We are collaborating with colleagues in Ireland and Sweden to develop and refine an audit tool that will be suitable for the evaluation of any outdoor playspace.

Approach & Methods Used

Following a systematic literature review and and expert panel review, tool domains and initial audit items were proposed. These items are being reviewed and revised by two members of the team. Several rounds of field testing, utilizing behavior mapping to confirm the assessment of play opportunities, will be carried out. After testing, a final tool will be prepared and disseminated.

Findings & Publications

• Morgenthaler, T.*, Lynch, H. Loebach, J., Pentland, D. & Schulze, C. (2024). Using the theory of affordance to understand environment-play transactions: Environmental taxonomy of outdoor playspace features. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78(4), 7804185120.

• Morgenthaler, T.*, Loebach, J., Lynch, H. Pentland, D., Kottorp, A. & Schulze, C. (in press). Developing the Playground Play Value and Usability Audit Tool (PVUA): An Evaluation of Content Validity via an Expert Panel. Children, Youth & Environments Special Issue.

• Additional papers forthcoming