RE: built spaces for kids | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Rob Sandelin (Floriferousclassic.msn.com) | |
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 1997 11:17:11 -0500 |
Kids are loud, creative, active things. Adults without kids tend to be annoyed by this, they may expect kids to be minature versions of adults. It is a large source of unstated conflict, often between elders without kids, and young parents with loud kids. Loud kid noise can drive people away from participating in community dinner. Heck, I'm a parent, and sometimes even I find the kid noise too loud. Create a space where they can be loud and not disturb the adults. And as somebody said, kid noise is exponential. 5 kids are 60 times louder than 3 kids. Its amazing. Also in winter time, kids are going to have a lot of unexpressed energy to release, so having a big space they can do this is a good idea. Rob Sandelin Sharingwood Where the women are strong, the men good looking and children all above average. ---------- From: cohousing-l [at] freedom.mtn.org on behalf of Willie Schreurs Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 1997 2:11 AM Subject: Re: built spaces for kids > From: Leni Reed <ssavvy [at] erols.com> > Date: Monday, September 29, 1997 9:19 AM > > I do not think it's a good idea to build a separate playroom, . . . > . . . > Instead, I think it would be good to dedicate a corner of the dining area as > the kids' space. . . . I don't think that would be a good idea for any but the tiniest of communities. At Greyrock Commons there are about 30 kids and, believe me, the whole is noisier than the sum of its parts! We have one playroom quite close to the dining room, with a glass door and a window so that they can be seen and loud noises can be heard. When we were designing our common house someone from another community used the phrase "able to hear screams but not giggles" as a criterion; it's the best rule of thumb I've come across. Also, the kids eat their meals with us (at least for the first 10-15 minutes). After that, an adult or responsible older child will be in there with the younger ones. > Finally, I think the ideal spaces for kids are outdoor spaces and > semi-outdoor spaces (porches)...and giving thought to these spaces is > important, too. I heartily agree. Greyrock has a porch off its dining room and the playground is just off the porch. This summer after the kids had had their fill, they just melted into the outdoors; they had a blast, we had relative peace and quiet. /\ Willie Schreurs /\ //\\ <Willie [at] Greyrock.org>(H) <WSchreurs [at] vines.colostate.edu>(W) //\\ ///\\\ Greyrock Commons, Fort Collins, CO ///\\\
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built spaces for kids Leni Reed, September 29 1997
- Re: built spaces for kids LouHarr, September 29 1997
- Re: built spaces for kids Willie Schreurs, September 29 1997
- RE: built spaces for kids Rob Sandelin, October 1 1997
- Re: built spaces for kids porcupin, October 8 1997
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