Children ’ s Spaces
Is your facility too hot , too cold , or just right ?
Rebecca Calbert , AIA , LEED AP , NCARB
As an architect , I notice my surroundings more than the “ average bear .”
And lately , trends in youth ministry interior design bring to mind Goldilocks and the Three Bears . Some spaces are too hot , some are too cold , and some are just right .
I ’ ve seen church facilities take a Disney-esque approach . Taken to extremes , that ’ s “ too hot .” ( After all , if church looks like Disneyland , what makes Disneyland special anymore ?)
I ’ ve also seen churches go in the opposite direction — far more puritan . Some treat children ’ s spaces no differently than the rest of the facility , with stark , white hallways that are more sterile than modernday public schools .
To get to “ just right ,” every church should look to its mission and community . If your mission is focused on children and young families , then your church is all about kids and celebrating the child .
The goal , then , is to make church so fun that children beg to come back . Here ’ s how .
The right mix : 5 proven strategies
# 1 : Start small ( and ask for help )
It ’ s easy to become frozen by all the available choices , so consider breaking down the decisions into smaller bites . Painting a light neutral color , adding a little decorative trim , and freshening up the carpet is easily within reach .
But , if you don ’ t feel comfortable making material and color selections , enlist the help of a church member who you believe personifies your community .
# 2 : Know when to ask for more help !
On the other end of the spectrum , a complete design ( or redesign ) — while exciting — can be overwhelming . Plan for large-scale decisions to be made by the church design committee . Then , allow for stakeholders to speak to their very different needs for the space .
Youth ministers will prioritize ease of supervision , aesthetics , and welcoming entry and common areas .
Teachers will want easy-to-clean surfaces , lots of storage , and soundabsorbing acoustics . If your space will have hard walls and ceilings , introduce carpets and fabrics to help absorb the sound . To that end , also , consider area rugs instead of wall-to-wall carpeting . Parents will be concerned with ease of drop-off and security . And children themselves , of course , can offer creative ideas .
# 3 : Think like a kid
It sounds obvious , but remember that children are small . Sit down on the floor and look around at the environment , from a child ’ s perspective , with a critical eye .
Mount pictures and handouts children would find interesting at their eye level .
Keep the room bright and airy , using colors that will help to make the space comfortable . Or , use pastels with small pops of bolder colors .
Children who are too young to read need non-verbal cues to help them navigate the space . Include changes of color , and add simple , bright graphics — again , at children ’ s eye level — to help them know they ’ re in the right place .
Finally , keep in mind that toddlers will give very little notice when they need to use the restroom ; so , think about proximity . Also incorporate child-size restroom equipment — small toilets , as well as sinks mounted low so kids can easily wash hands without the risk of falling off a step stool .
# 4 : Whatever you do , stay versatile
Think about it — do you know a single 10-year-old who likes the same things he did at 5 ? Today ’ s Fidget Spinners will quickly become tomorrow ’ s Tickle Me Elmo .
Don ’ t build more today than you can afford to demolish in five years , when your congregation has grown so much that you are moving the children ’ s ministry into a completely new wing .
As the old adage goes , the only constant is change — and the congregation ( young and old ) is always growing and changing .
# 5 : The message drives the magic
No amount of kid-friendly aesthetics can be successful without the right message behind it . Above all , you must communicate to children that they belong . This is true whether you ’ re building a completely new youth ministry wing from scratch , or renovating an existing space to make it more appealing .
Rebecca Calbert , AIA , LEED AP , NCARB is the Owner and Principal Architect at Calbert Design Group , LLC in Kennesaw , Ga . [ www . calbertdesign . com ] With 30 years of professional experience , Calbert has worked with various award-winning architectural firms in the Metro Atlanta area .
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