New framework to guide HDB playground designs from 2026

Come 2026, HDB playgrounds will provide children with more diverse and engaging play experiences under a new framework that will guide their design.

- Isabelle Liew

The Play Values Framework, which will be introduced in January 2026 in newly tendered Build-To-Order (BTO) projects and new HDB parks, aims to enhance the play experience for children while addressing their developmental needs, the Housing Board said on Dec 3.

Drawn up following input from parents, early childhood and health professionals, and playground specialists, the framework highlights three key aspects of play: physical, social and creative.

Elements of all three aspects can be incorporated to create fun and engaging playgrounds.

For example, swinging, sliding and climbing were identified as activities that help to improve children’s motor skills like coordination, dexterity and strength.

The framework also recommends providing different opportunities for both solitary and social play, such as a trampoline for solo play, a seesaw for buddy play, and climbing nets for group play.

In terms of creative play, tactile, imaginative and cognitive elements, such as play panels, could encourage exploration, strengthen problem-solving abilities and enhance children’s sensory development.