The Design of Childhood: How the Material World Shapes Independent Kids

This is a design history and architectural history book that is focused on materials and spaces for children. It is mostly-US focused. Chapters are “blocks,” “house,” “school,” “playground,” and “city.” The author is an architecture and design critic, and explains the rationale for design choices, but doesn’t veer too deeply into child development. It’s not what I expected, and I did skim in parts, but overall found it interesting. I’d love for Lange to write a follow-up that is more of a coffee table book full of colored images and more succinct summaries of the rationale behind certain design choices for children. Mostly worth reading if you are an architecture, design, or 19th-20th century urban US history show more person, though also interesting if you’re not. show less

Great walk through how children have influenced / been ignored in the design of spaces over the past 150 years.

Read the introduction and half of the first chapter (Blocks), to p.43.

Introduction
Blocks
House
School
Playground
City
Conclusion

"I loved the idea that there was a better way to do anything." (4)

http://www.alexandralange.net/articles/87/how-can-you-learn-about-the-world-in-s....

https://www.citylab.com/design/2018/08/how-kids-learn-to-navigate-the-city-and-t...

See also: Belles on Their Toes (Gilbreth), Cheaper by the Dozen (Gilbreth)

from what I've read thus far, FABULOUS!