Evaluating child-friendly spaces: insights from a participatory mixed methods study of a municipality’s free-play preschool and space

ABSTRACT

Free play, play controlled by the player(s), is an essential and positive determinant of children’s social, physical, and emotional health. Ensuring opportunities for dynamic free play in rich physical and social environments is foundational to a child-friendly community. This paper discusses methodological lessons from a participatory mixed methods research partnership (multisite case study) that evaluated the impact of a municipal investment in an indoor play-based preschool recreation program and space on promoting free play. We reflect on the approach used to understand the differences between an innovative space, purposefully designed to promote free play, and conventional preschool recreation spaces with respect to child-friendly design. This study explored the multifaceted nature of children’s play from the perspectives of parents, preschool instructors, and children relative to children’s interaction with the physical and social attributes of three preschool environments. The use of a participatory mixed methods approach permitted a nuanced study of the conditions that support free play in municipal preschool recreation programs, which also can be used to study other community spaces. Rigorous methodology allowed for the careful investigation of purported child-friendly places to reveal findings that can provide policy-makers and community stakeholders with viable documentation for future investments in children’s play.

KEYWORDS:

• Free play
• preschool
• child-friendly
• participatory mixed methods research
• municipal recreation
• Canada

Acknowledgements

The authors extend their deep gratitude to the children, parents, preschool program staff, and research team staff who contributed their insights, time, and energy to this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research under Grant 134227; and the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research under Grant 13SM-Nykiforuk. CN is supported by an Applied Public Health Chair salary award funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada and Alberta Innovates under Grant CIHR: 137909; AIHS: 201400592.

Notes on contributors

Candace I. J. Nykiforuk

Candace I. J. Nykiforuk is Director, Centre for Healthy Communities and Associate Professor, School of Public Health. She holds a CIHR/PHAC/AI Applied Public Health Chair in Public Policy and Community Environments. Candace is a health geographer and health promotion researcher with expertise in the role of built and social environments on health and health equity, and on the evaluation of population health interventions.

Jane Hewes

Jane Hewes is Associate Dean, Faculty of Education and Social Work. Jane brings expertise in children’s play, children’s rights, early-childhood curricula/pedagogies, and professional learning in the early-childhood sector to this research, along with professional experience in community recreation, community education, and community health promotion. She is committed to community-engaged participatory scholarship and was a founding member of the Community University Partnership for the Study of Children Youth and Families (CUP) in Edmonton.

Ana Paula Belon

Ana Paula Belon is a Research Associate with the Policy, Location, and Access in Community Environments (PLACE) Lab. She brings expertise on the impact of social and built environment on health behavior and social inequalities in health, applying quantitative and qualitative methods. Ana is interested in using photovoice to explore community perceptions of the built environment, and mixed-methods evaluation of community and public health programs.

Doreen Paradis

Doreen Paradis is the Recreation Programmer—for Preschool with the department of Recreation, Parks and Culture in Strathcona County. Developing programs for young children where they can grow to their full potential is her main focus. Doreen has a longstanding passion for play and its importance for developing social and emotional skills and strong foundation for continued learning in young children.

Erin Gallagher

Erin Gallagher worked as Recreation Programmer with Strathcona County from 2011 to 2016. Erin led staff and supported academic partnerships as children’s programs in Strathcona County transitioned into a more engaging and purposeful program experience for families focused on the development of social and emotional skills in young children.

Rebecca Gokiert

Rebecca Gokiert is Associate Director, Early Childhood Measurement and Evaluation and Associate Professor with the Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth and Families (CUP). Rebecca utilizes a community-based research approach to examine cultural group differences and the validity of commonly used measurement tools in early-childhood development. Rebecca’s currently focuses on community engagement, partnership development and sustainability, and her research is primarily in collaboration with early-childhood stakeholders, immigrant, refugee, and First Nation communities.

Jeffrey Bisanz

Jeffrey Bisanz is Professor Emeritus in Psychology. His research interests are in cognitive development, with emphases on mathematical cognition, instruction, and assessment. Jeff is also engaged in community-based research on the development of children and families with the Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families (CUP).

Laura Nieuwendyk

Laura Nieuwendyk is the Senior Program Lead with the Policy, Location, and Access in Community Environments (PLACE) Lab. Laura brings expertise on community engagement, partnership approaches, and capacity building for health promotion. Laura has worked on multiple projects to help understand the relationship between people, policy, and place.