The research on real play does not assume a large house or a garden. Here is how to create a rich play environment in any space.
The research does not show that more space produces better play, it shows that better-organised space does. A small, well-arranged play space with a limited selection of high-quality, accessible toys consistently produces more sustained and complex play than a large, cluttered space with many toys. The Montessori shelf model, a small number of beautiful items, organised and accessible, works in a studio flat as well as in a large house.
Key citation
Dauch et al. (2018). The influence of the number of toys in the environment. Infant Behavior & Development · Lillard, A.S. (2012). Preschool children's development. Journal of School Psychology
Urban parents have access to resources many rural families do not: parks, libraries, community playgrounds, nature strips, and the extraordinary sensory richness of a city environment. Research by Louise Chawla shows that children who grow up in cities can develop deep connections to nature and strong play lives, if given the time and the freedom to explore their immediate environment. The pavement, the park, the bus journey, the market, these are all play environments.
Free: Screen-Free Week Planner for any home → Small-but-rich wooden toys for compact homes →Britain's oldest toy maker. Every toy open-ended, wooden, and built for exactly the kind of play the research recommends.