Starchild: Malaysian kids share their ideas for the perfect playground

Dhia Aqilla Kamarul Ariffin, 9

A playground is more than just a place to run, climb and play. It is a space where children can have fun, make friends, explore their imagination and create happy memories.

Dhia Zhulaiqa Kamarul Ariffin, 12

If you could design your own playground, what would you include?

How about a cool playground with tall slides, climbing walls, swings and obstacle courses where everyone can test their skills? Or would you prefer a nature-inspired playground with trees, gardens, sand pits and areas where children can discover plants and animals?

Have you heard of the City Museum in St Louis, Missouri, the United States? This amazing all-ages playground is housed in an old shoe factory. It is an indoor-outdoor jungle gym built from repurposed industrial objects, featuring multi- storey slides, an airplane suspended in the air and rooftop caves waiting to be explored. Isn’t that cool?

The playground shows how old objects and spaces can be transformed into something fun and exciting. So the next time you design a playground, get some inspiration from this unique playground and let your imagination run wild!

Don’t forget to include safety features too. This includes soft flooring, strong equipment and shaded areas that can help children play comfortably while protecting them from injuries.

Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, My dream playground.

Julian Ong, 6

Julian Ong, six, wants to design a playground where children of all ages and abilities can play together. “My playground would have swings, slides and climbing areas, but I would also include quiet spaces for children who need a calm place to relax.”
 

Michelle Tan Mei Kuan, 11

“My dream playground has a huge tree with a hut built in it called a treehouse. The treehouse is large enough for me and a few of my friends. We eat snacks, rest and chat together inside while enjoying the view. Underneath the treehouse, there is a swing where we have fun swinging back and forth.

"Beside it, there are monkey bars where we climb and swing to exercise and stay active. There is also plenty of open space around the playground for us to run around and play different games together. My dream playground is a fun, exciting and safe place where children play, explore and enjoy themselves every day,” Michelle Tan Mei Kuan, 11, writes.

Joshua Tan, 12

Joshua Tan, 12, likes to go to the playground every day to exercise and have fun.

“My dream playground would have a basketball court, a cool climbing wall and monkey bars where children can climb, swing and play happily together.

"There would also be outdoor exercise machines, stationary bikes and shady areas so everyone can relax and enjoy themselves. To make it safe and comfortable for seniors like my grandma, there would be handrails along the walking paths too.”

Nine-year-old Dhia Aqilla Kamarul Ariffin prefers a playground with a small pond with fish and a butterfly garden where children can learn about nature.

“There would also be a picnic area where families can spend time together. My playground would have swings, slides and climbing areas, but I would also include quiet spaces for children who need a calm place to relax.”

Older sibling Dhia Zhulaiqa Kamarul Ariffin, 12, writes: “There would be a music corner with instruments, an art wall where children can paint, and a small stage for performances.

"I would decorate the playground with bright colours and drawings created by children in the neighbourhood. A great playground should bring people together. Children should be able to make new friends, share ideas and enjoy themselves safely.”

ITEM: Imagine you could invent anything in the world. What would you create? It could be a real invention that makes life easier, such as a robot that helps with homework, smart backpack that packs itself or or a pair of glasses that helps you learn new things. Or it could be a completely imaginary invention from your dreams, like a flying bicycle, a time-travel machine or a device that lets you talk to your pets.

Email your contributions to [e-mail] by July 31. Please put “STARCHILD: My invention” in the subject line of your email.

Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.