Research Report: Co-Designing Climate-Resilient Play Spaces for Early Childhood Development in Erunkan, Ikorodu

Researcher: Omobolanle Kayode James

Research Mentor: Zuliehat Ohunene Abdullahi

This study investigates how participatory co-design can be used to develop climate-resilient play spaces for early childhood development in Erunkan, a flood- and heat-vulnerable informal settlement in Lagos State, Nigeria. Using visual co-design workshops with around 50 children aged 3–6, alongside surveys of 94 caregivers, the research finds that flooding and extreme heat frequently disrupt children’s play, with nearly half of children experiencing flood-related injuries. Despite the absence of any dedicated play space, children maintained strong social bonds. Children’s design preferences — slides, swings, trees, and covered structures — closely matched caregivers’ priorities for flood-resistant, shaded play areas, and over three-quarters of caregivers expressed willingness to help build and maintain a shared space, offering a replicable, low-cost model for child-inclusive climate adaptation.

Keywords: climate-resilient design; play spaces; participatory co-design; early childhood development; informal settlements; Nigeria; child participation; urban climate adaptation