What are spatial or temporal constraints?

Spatial and temporal constraints are rules that tell you where or when something can happen.

Imagine you're playing a game with your friends in the park. You have to stay inside the sandbox to dig, that’s a spatial constraint, because it tells you where you can dig. If you go outside the sandbox, you’re not following the rule!

Now imagine the game has a time limit: you only get 10 minutes to build the tallest castle. That’s a temporal constraint, because it tells you when you have to finish your work.

• Spatial constraints are like invisible fences, they say “you can be here, but not there.”
• Temporal constraints are like a timer, they say “you have this much time, and then it’s over!”

Think of it like eating ice cream: you might have a lot of flavors to choose from (spatial, because you can pick any flavor), but if your mom says you only get 5 minutes to eat it (temporal), you’ll probably hurry up!