A small child sits alone on the balcony of some tall apartment complex staring longingly below. We can all sympathize with his frustration and desire to go out and run free. Yet, the same time we can also understand the anxiety of the worried parent, afraid of the potential dangers that exist in the urban environment.

Things, however, are changing in most city settings, and the modern metropolis of Taipei is no exception to this trend. For every worried parent who voices concern about safe areas to play, there are concerned citizens who are working enthusiastically to develop suitable activity areas that offer a safe, secure play environment as well as a place in which the child can develop both physical and mental faculties.

This was followed in September with the establishment of the Hsin-I Foundation's "Parents' and Preschoolers' Place", while the Taipei City Government plans to open the Yuan Shan Childrens' Educational Activity Center in the late spring of 1986. Throughout the 12 county and designated urban areas around the island province, some 19 new childrens' areas are being opened to the public. This certainly is evidence of the concern being shown for the environmental welfare of the nation's most valuable human resource, its children. In addition to the previously mentioned areas the city does offer a host of other suitable places in which children are free to play or roam about. These include zoos, museums, botanical gardens, science centers and libraries. Taipei presently boasts two outstanding library facilities which cater exclusively to the special needs of children. They are the Hong Chian Chuan Library and the branch of the main Taipei City Library. These library facilities are supplemented by a vast network of bookstores and reading rooms, all serving to create a knowledge network or route for children to follow. Museums, parks and the zoo combine to create a natural science route for the child's intellectual development.

In reality, the urban environment for all its concrete and architectural barriers does house many suitable areas for play. Most areas of the city contain parks and gardens with such simple but delightful activities as swings and slides, while the department stores lining the commercial sectors of the city house video games which have become quite popular with the youngsters. Even the night market, with its crowded stalls and bustling laneways provide recreational pastimes for children. Popular activities include fish ponds and games that provide hours of enjoyment.

Chang Hsing-ju, director of the Hsin-I Foundation in Taipei represents a concerned voice in this problem. For more than 10 years she has worked diligently to establish a safe haven for preschool children, a place not only for play but a center to develop their physical and mental abilities. Enlisting the expert aid of Yu Shu-fen, a woman who has valuable career experience as a director of preschool activities at the New York City Public Library, and Yu Ming-kuo, director of the graduate department of Tung Hai University's school of architecture, they designed and developed this unique play environment for preschool aged children. Located on Jen Ai Road, this innovative center was built at a cost of US$125,000. "Young children love to move, are curious and are natural adventurers; it is not where they play, as what they play at that is fundamentally important," says Yu Shu-fen in assessing the center's goals. While many parents may view such simple games as skipping, jumping, and playing ball as mere forms of physical release, they are important ways in which children learn to develop their sense of balance and hand-eye coordination.

The center has been subdivided into three distinct areas, with the "Lo Lo Yuan" (Happiness Garden) the unanimous favorite among the visiting children. Designed with special attention to preschoolers' physical and mental development, this area offers a host of games and activities geared to stimulate physical, and motor development. Games are an important educational tool which spur the development of a child's ability to reason and relate to ideas. The Lo Lo Yuan has two age group targets: the infant to two-year old group, and the three to six-year old group. The second group participates in games and activities designed to stimulate muscle control. Climbing, jumping and sliding, these games provide the proper environmental stimulus for development. Motor control and small muscle development is emphasized in activities such as painting and color identification.

Another important part of the Lo Lo Yuan is playacting. Allowing the child to play out his fantasies is an excellent conduit for the expression of his or her feelings, thoughts and moods. It is also an exceptionally effective looking glass for the parent. These games give the parent a chance to better observe and appreciate the individual feelings of their children.

The toy library houses a collection of more than 300 useful toys. Carefully selected from the more than 1,000 different toy items now available in city stores, these goods can be loaned out to the children to use in the center playroom. (Parents present a card.) The main purpose of the toy library is not to loan out toys but rather to give the concerned parent an idea of the many useful materials available to children. Yu Shu-fen stresses that many parents are often confused and have great difficulty when faced with the plethora of toys now flooding today's market.

The final section of the center is the "K'uai Lo Chiao Shih" (Happiness Classroom). Here the enthusiastic young children participate in a host of fun-filled, yet educationally oriented activities. Such seemingly innocuous activities as popping corn, making jam, and tying shoe laces serve as effective methods in stimulating young minds to the idea of step-by-step method and procedure. It is hoped this early exposure will help imbue a sense of curiosity and understanding for the changes which things often go through.

How effective is the Place? Kuo Lu-ch'i, the mother of a six-year old son is a representative example of the success of the center. Previously employed in a full-time position, she left her child in the care of a baby-sitter. The child often seemed sullen and distant around his mother. Fearing that she would lose the chance to teach and love her child because he would soon be entering primary school, she resigned from her post to devote all her time to her son. She began to take him to the Parents' and Preschoolers' Place each day, where exposure to the games and new playmates helped to open up this previously withdrawn boy. His mother credits the center with developing his personality and providing them with the opportunity to build a loving relationship.

The city libraries that cater to children provide another important area of educational activity so vital in the development of the child. The Hong Chian Chuan is the undisputed leader among the local city libraries in providing the most up-to-date equipment for the childrens' use. Libraries have had to change from being considered a passive environment to one that serves the active, ever changing interests of the information generation. Established in 1971, the Hong Chian Chuan Library has a complete outlay of audio-visual equipment including two video rooms, a large listening lab and a collection of over 10,000 tapes and reels. Chen Shu-yuan states that many adult observers are surprised to see that the children are quite cultivated in their selection of tapes and videos. While the cartoon is still popular, many cultural offerings have won equal acceptance among the avid participants.

The city zoo, with its 70 years of history and vast collection of animals (over 120 different types and 1,100 animals), is another popular destination for youngsters. Observing the habits of animals stimulates their natural penchant for asking questions, which are dutifully answered by a trained staff of zoo employees.

Museums, and science centers provide the child with the chance to view many collected items of historical and scientific interest.

While the importance of such indoor centers cannot be overstated, Teng P'ei-yu, a teacher at the K'uai Le Er T'ung Chung Hsin feels that exposure to the outdoors, especially for the child raised in the urban environment is even more significant. Familiarity with the wonders of nature are important in building a healthy, whole personality.

Yang P'ing-shih, an assistant professor of botany at the National Taiwan University sums up the importance of play for children. He said "besides what adults can teach them, real knowledge for children must come from letting them go forward to explore, imagine, and wonder about his environmental space, because nature is best able to provide the child with this opportunity."

(Gerald Hatherly)

[Picture Caption]

1. Staring blankly at the world outside her apartment home, this doll is an apt reflection of the mood of her mistress--a city child. 2. Playing in this pile of soft balls is just one of the activities the Hsin I Foundation's Parents' and Preschoolers' Place uses to train preschoolers' motor coordination. 3. City children's learning environment is often prearranged by adults. Pictured are a group of children engaged in a game that gives valuable instruction in the properties of magnetic force.

1. By placing the differently shaped ducks into the appropriate slots during this mother-child play period, the child can develop finger muscle coordination. 2. Toys are a necessary play partner for today's city child.

1. The various pieces of equipment in science centers help children develop investigative skills as well as better understand abstract concepts of scientific knowledge. 2. City children are fortunate to be able to use the video facilities of audio-visual libraries.

1,2. Although children's play space is limited in the urban environment, youngsters are still able to find areas to play. 1. Children at play on the stone benches in the breezeway of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall. 2. A group of children playing with kites.

1,2. Children can easily amuse themselves. 1. This child uses the gnarled roots of this tree as a slide. 2. These two youngsters are content to explore the Taipei City Zoo.

Making funny faces while playing with hand lanterns--the joys of childhood are wonderful, lifelong memories for all of us.

2. Playing in this pile of soft balls is just one of the activities the Hsin I Foundation's Parents' and Preschoolers' Place uses to train preschoolers' motor coordination.

3. City children's learning environment is often prearranged by adults. Pictured are a group of children engaged in a game that gives valuable instruction in the properties of magnetic force.

1. By placing the differently shaped ducks into the appropriate slots during this mother-child play period, the child can develop finger muscle coordination.

2. Toys are a necessary play partner for today's city child.

1. The various pieces of equipment in science centers help children develop investigative skills as well as better understand abstract concepts of scientific knowledge.

2. City children are fortunate to be able to use the video facilities of audio-visual libraries.

1,2. Although children's play space is limited in the urban environment, youngsters are still able to find areas to play. 1. Children at play on the stone benches in the breezeway of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall.

2. A group of children playing with kites.

1,2. Children can easily amuse themselves. 1. This child uses the gnarled roots of this tree as a slide.

2. These two youngsters are content to explore the Taipei City Zoo.

Making funny faces while playing with hand lanterns--the joys of childhood are wonderful, lifelong memories for all of us.