Overview

Background

Children growing up in urban environments have fewer opportunities to engage meaningfully with nature, while increased screen time and urbanization further contribute to their disconnection from the natural world. Existing nature-based activities also do not necessarily lead children to understand their interconnectedness with nature. TerraToy was developed to explore how design could turn nature play into a more relational experience—encouraging children not only to play in nature, but to interact with nature.

Strategy

The design combines open-ended play, exploration, and interactive feedback. Rather than giving children predefined tasks or rules, TerraToy encourages them to explore their surroundings, discover fallen natural materials, and decide how those materials can become part of their play. Its modular structure supports diverse combinations, while responsive facial expressions and sounds provide feedback that encourages children to consider how their actions might affect nature.

Concept

Create Your Own Nature Spirit.
TerraToy is a modular nature-play kit inspired by the concept of companion species. Children collect fallen leaves, twigs, stones, feathers, and other natural materials and combine them with magnetic blocks to create “Terra,” their own interpretation of a local nature spirit. An interactive module featuring animated eyes, facial expressions, and sounds gives Terra a sense of agency, transforming natural materials from passive craft resources into elements of an imagined living companion.

Impact

TerraToy helped children notice, explore, and interact with nature in new ways. Instead of simply walking through nature, children actively searched for natural materials, imagined new meanings for them, and incorporated them into creative play. They also became more aware of how their actions could affect other living things, encouraging a more caring and reciprocal relationship with nature.

The study also found that children using TerraToy developed a stronger emotional connection with nature compared with those who experienced nature play without the kit.