Funtastic Japanese preschool collects rainwater puddles for kids to play in

Taking into account how important it is to play in nature from a young age, architecture firm <a title="Funtastic Japanese school designed to form rainwater puddles for kids to play" href="http://hibinosekkei.com/" target="_blank">Hibino Sekkei</a> designed a school where kids can splash in the rain. Situated in <a title="Funtastic Japanese school designed to form rainwater puddles for kids to play" href="http://sc.kumamoto-net.ne.jp/daiichi-Pre/" target="_blank">Kumamoto City</a>, the Dai-ichi Yochien is an <a title="Funtastic Japanese school designed to form rainwater puddles for kids to play" href="http://inhabitat.com/tezuka-architects-amazing-fuji-kindergarten-wraps-around-a-100-year-old-zelkova-tree/" target="_blank">inventive preschool</a> with an open courtyard that accumulates rainwater to form a big puddle on the floor. On dry days, the space is used for ball games, so whether it rains or shines, these kids will be out to play.

Kids all over the world go mad about puddles--something the design firm acknowledged with this project.

But it's usually the adults who are always overly concerned and worrying they might get wet, cold and eventually fall ill.

This unique school in Japan encourages kids to play with the elements, with an external courtyard that allows a small pond to form after it rains.

When the patio is dry, it makes a wonderful badminton or softball court and during the winter it's turn into an ice skating rink.

The whole school plan, as well as its curriculum, is happy, flexible and unconstrained, with plenty of glass walls and natural light.

Also, to teach kids to look after their own stuff, they need to purchase and use their own desk and chair, which they can keep and eventually take home after graduation.