Overview

Use the Play Space Traffic Study form to examine how kids and adults move in the play space, how frequently different areas of the space are used, where conflicts occur, and more. This tool is designed to give a visual representation of what happens in a play space over a given time period. This can be useful in figuring out patterns of behavior or movement and then refining how the space is arranged or managed.

Using The Play Space Traffic Study Form

A clipboard and collection of colored markers, pens, or pencils will come in handy. To get started, draw an eagle’s eye sketch of the space you plan to observe and label important elements. Include key features of the physical environment such as tables, shelving, play structures, etc. Your drawing doesn’t need to be perfect–just try to note the major features.

Next, create a color-coded key based on what you intend to observe. For example, pink lines may indicate the movement of 3-year-old Phillis around the room, blue Xs may indicate where someone was bitten, or green circles my mark places where child to child conversations lasting over 3 minutes occurred. You can add items to the key later on, if needed.

Before starting your observation, fill in the rest of the lower portion of the form–the space observed, the date and time of the observation, and the reason for the observation.

Note: If you’ll be making many observations of the same space, you can save time by creating a master drawing of the space on a Play Space Traffic Study form. Then you can file that master away and make copies of it when they’re needed. It’ll save lots of drawing time. Just remember to update it if you make major changes to the space.

Now, sit back, observe what’s happening in the space, and chart it on your drawing.

Here are a couple samples of completed Play Space Traffic Study forms for an imaginary classroom:

In addition to using this form for short observations where you’re actively trying to log activity and motion in real time, you can use it to chart activity over a longer period. For example, imagine a child who has been acting aggressively with other kids–biting, scratching, hitting, etc. You can use this form to log where those incidents occur over the course of days or weeks. Maybe a green check every time she acts aggressively with other kids. Over time, a pattern may emerge that offers some insight into the ongoing aggression.

This Play Space Traffic Study form won’t give you any answers, but it can offer insights.

Here’s a link to an episode of the Child Care Bar And Grill podcast where we discuss this form.

Here’s The Free Play Space Traffic Study Form

Download it, print it, and use it to help better understand what’s happening in your early learning environment:

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