Dissertation title

I would like to begin my blog by saying that I have abandoned my weekly writing blog because in these past few weeks we have had a lot of deadlines and I found it difficult to cope with everything at once.

This blog is all about my dissertation title. As I wrote in the past blogs, my dissertation is going to be focused on orphanages. 

I chose Orphanages for my dissertation because some orphanages in Malta lack the correctly planned environment for children to live and grow happily.

The big problem in orphanages is that they were not design accordingly for users.   Probably in the past they only thought about how many children could fit orphanages rather than the comfort and wellbeing of the children.  This is a problem that creates crowded small spaces that many children live in.  I believe that everybody needs their space, especially if these children are new to an unfamiliar environment and people.

Some orphanages lack even playrooms and activities. For children, playing is the best therapy. Playing could help the children get their minds off their problems they are going through or have been through.

Another point are white walls. White walls are boring for children. Orphanages should have colours and patterns to help with a more friendly and fun environment.  My belief is that for children to live better and thrive, they need to have a suitable environment. 

I’m not quite sure about my hypotheses although I will continue thinking about what to write about it in the next blog.

Proposal Discussion 

For the end of this unit I have to come up with a Hypotheses. I am going to base my hypotheses on my thesis topic. Last semester I had to come up with the thesis title and I had to find information based on this title to write the literature review. My chosen area was about local orphanages and the thesis title was “The Impact of Interior Design on the Emotional Wellbeing of Children as applied to Local Orphanages.”

To come up with the Hypotheses, I asked some questions that could help me.

1. What is the feeling and atmosphere an orphanage gives you when you enter the building?
2. What developments have orphanages had since these days?
3. What would make it a more familiar atmosphere?
4. What would interest children?
5. How could the interior space help children with their therapy?

From some of my research, I found that some children that are taken away from their mother at a young age, could have psychological issues. So, what could help these children with their psychological issues?  Through my research and advice from some lecturers that I talked to, children’s psychological issues can be helped by colours, patterns, natural aspect and activities in the building.

In an article that I read by Kathy Eugster, who is the MA, Counselling Psychology, Registered Clinical Counsellor, Certified Play Therapist and Child and Family Therapist. Kathy Eugster says that mental health professionals use the power of play therapy on children who have been through trauma. Using a playroom as a counselling space is ideal because its equipped with fun things that children love and feel at ease in.

I talked to my lecturer who said that not only could it be an indoor activity but also an outdoor activity. 

I was thinking that my hypothesis would be that “Playroom activities helps Children feel better and Improve their behaviour”

I do however wish to discuss this with Mr Zammit to see if I’m on the right track.

Reference:

Eugster,K., n.d. Play Therapy: How it Helps Children Feel Better and Improve Behavior 

. [online] Available at: < http://www.kathyeugster.com/articles/article003.htm> [Accessed 13,May 2017].