Children and playgrounds in Mediterranean cities

Abstract

This paper presents the first results of a case study on the ways in which playgrounds are constructed and experienced in children's daily lives in two medium sized Mediterranean Catalan cities. The research is based on qualitative methodology through participant observation and interviews with institutional actors. Our research suggests that playgrounds are organised around age as the central category; nevertheless, gender is important in the use and activities developed as children get older. Specific aspects from Mediterranean and medium-sized cities are raised such as a positive perception and an intense use of public space by both adults and children. Specific childhood policies in city planning and a stronger gender awareness among institutional actors would improve the social role of playgrounds as participatory, socialising and inclusive spaces.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Janice Monk, Maria Dolors Garcia-Ramon and anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions and comments on an earlier draft of this paper.

Notes

1. A preliminary version of this paper was presented in the 2005 AAG (The Association of American Geographers) Annual Meeting, Denver (Colorado) 5–9 April 2005.

2. In this paper we have emphasized the social context and the main actors that participate in the planning and implementation of playgrounds. Children's assessments through fieldwork (such as informal talks) and parents/other adults views are going to be central in the second stage of our research. Also, we plan to extend our research to different geographical scales, such as small villages, in order to compare the role of playgrounds in both urban and rural contexts.

3. This woman works for the local authority as Childrens Council coordinator, so when she speaks on behalf of children she refers to Chidrens Council discussions and rapports.

4. http://www.santfeliu.org/consell/menu.jsp