Utveckling av lekfordon för förskolans utomhusmiljö: Hur de kan designas för att stimulera ett lekfullt lärande
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Examensarbete på grundnivå
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Model builders
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Abstract
Previously, the entrepreneurial company Palacon has developed a concept of a toy
excavator with a focus on giving it an identity of real heavy construction equipment.
The goal of this project was to explore opportunities regarding the development of
a similar product for a preschool environment, based on Palacon’s excavator. The
project was performed through the consulting company Veprox.
A prestudy was performed by starting with a literature study which examined
the curriculum of preschools, rules about toys, and how children learn. Furthermore,
four observations on preschools, interviews with preschool teachers and a market
research conducted on today’s toys and heavy construction equipment were performed.
The prestudy showed that children appreciate playing together, that they
should develop motor skills, communication and teamwork skills, and that they use
their imagination and creativity when playing. Therefore, it was decided that the toy
concept should have a neutral shape instead of expressing real heavy construction
equipment. All requirements and desired functions were compiled into a requirement
specification and a functional analysis, which was modified as the project progressed.
Brainstorming, analysis and elimination were carried out iteratively during the
project. When evaluating, the concepts were compared to the requirement specification
and the functional analysis to ensure that the requirements were met.
The final concept consists of three ride on car modules: a one-seated, a two-seated
and a hollow module. The hollow module has two wheels to ensure that a child can
not ride the car without the possibility of braking. The shapes of the modules are
made of blown polyethylene and the substructure is constructed out of steel. To
enable changeable play, the modules can be interconnected, seated in two directions
and have holes both in the front and in the back where additional modules can be
attached. The three additional modules are excavator module, push module and lift
module, which are mounted on a steel pipe and can be attached to the vehicles. The
variability of the modules and the abstract shapes contribute to the stimulation of
creativity, team-work, motor skills and imagination.