Principle 4

Allow and support exploration

“Let me grow at my own pace and I will ask for support when I need it.”
(Preisha, 12 years old, Finland)

  • Children need to have freedom to experiment, take risks and learn from mistakes.
  • If mistakes occur, support the child to fix them, either by themselves or with an adult.
  • Encourage curiosity, and consider children’s evolving capabilities based on age and development, personalities, skills and interests.
  • Offer children opportunities to acquire new skills and encourage them to take on self-driven challenges.
  • Design for children to be creators and contributors, not just consumers.

Links to the UN Rights of the Child:
The Right to Development & The Right to Learn

❮ Principle 3
❯ Principle 5
RESOURCES: Design for Play & Learning

Here you can find selected resources to learn more about designing for play and learning.

Evolutionary Playwork (book, 2011)
Playful by Design (pdf)
Children, Technology and Play (pdf)
Exploring Play and Creativity in Pre-Schoolers’ Use of Apps: Media Industry Guide (pdf)
Young Children Playing and Learning in a Digital Age (book, 2018)
Framing Play Design (book, 2020)
ToP – Test of Playfulness (pdf)

D4CR principles
Design for Inclusion

1. Gather and respect children’s views
2. Everyone can use
3. Use communication children can understand

Design for Play & Learning

4. Allow and support exploration
5. Encourage children to play with others
6. Create a balanced environment

Design for Safety & Sustainability

7. Keep children safe and protected
8. Do not misuse children’s data
9. Help children recognise and understand commercial activities
10. Design for future