Search

The day-to-day environment surrounding the child influences its physical, social, and emotional wellbeing. The study was conducted to understand how the perception of children and their parents about the outdoor play spaces influences their outdoor participation. Face-to-face interviews with parents, a walk-along interview with children and audit of public open space were conducted in different neighbourhoods in the city of Pune (India) which differed in social and spatial characteristics. This paper suggests a conceptual framework that defines the setting of participation and factors influencing the motivation of participation in the outdoor environment. The quantitative study of parents' interviews and qualitative analysis of children's sketches highlight different aspects like play and mobility range, open space visitation, activities of children, spatial qualities of the open space and perception of children and their parents. The findings brought forth difference in parents and children's perception of risk in open spaces.

This study aims to determine the demands and tendencies of individuals using recreational areas and parks in the central districts of Ankara. Individuals using recreational areas were given a questionnaire and asked to complete it on a voluntary basis. The findings were evaluated and interpreted according to the sub-dimensions of the scale.

Aim: This study gathered views of 10 to 12-years-old pupils about their play experiences before and after transition to secondary school, comparing access to their right to play. Method: A multiple-case study design was used to gather views of six Year 6 primary pupils and six Year 7 secondary pupils living in the same community in the United Kingdom (UK). Six workshops, including a focus group, were conducted with each year group. Findings: Qualitative data from both focus groups were analysed thematically, individually and across year groups. Findings indicated that temporal, spatial and psychological factors affected both Year 6 and Year 7 pupils' play access. Year 6 pupils were more satisfied with their play opportunities and reported more time to play. Limitations: The small-scale size of this study limits drawing conclusions. Data were collected in the summer term and therefore the weather and point in the school year may have been influential. Conclusions: Findings suggested that, for the pupils involved, play opportunities appeared to decrease upon transition to secondary school. It is therefore important that barriers to play across age groups are considered and addressed, to ensure that all children can realise their right to play. Educational psychologists (EPs) can raise awareness of the benefits of play and the potential impact of limited play opportunities for older children.

The objectives of this study were: (1) To determine factors which inhibit and facilitate child and adolescent use of outdoor spaces for healthy physical activity by race and ethnicity in four Houston communities; and (2) To propose guidelines for encouraging and maintaining child and adolescent outdoor physical activity. Using local health data and Houston Police Department crime statistics, four communities were identified for the study that had the highest concentration of crime and the racial/ethnic groups of interest. The researchers then identified public parks in the communities. At least two parks were observed in each of the four communities from 2010 to 2011 during spring, summer, fall and winter. The parks were observed for use by children and adolescents and to describe the condition of the park spaces. The communities were Alief (Asian), Sunnyside (Black), Eldridge- West Oaks (White) and Northside- Northline (Hispanic). Observations were made at varying hours of both day and night, weekdays and weekends. Photographs were taken and the condition of the spaces noted in detail. One hundred and twenty persons, 18 years and over, using the spaces or otherwise in these communities were conveniently sampled and interviewed about their health and the extent to which they, or any children or adolescents under their care, used the outdoor spaces of interest. Data were analyzed qualitatively and with basic descriptive statistics. The photographs, journal notes and observation notes of all investigators and key personnel were analyzed. Interview data were also coded to identify patterns and themes in the responses. The findings indicate disparities in the quality and quantity of park equipment and the maintenance of the areas. Where perceptions of disorder were described, there was often visible evidence to support the perceptions. In many cases, residents' perceptions of crime were corroborated by police data. While interview reports did not seem to support the expectation that the condition of the parks was a significant deterrent to their use by children and adolescents, the condition of the parks might be said to limit the extent of that use. Specific reports of disorder that inhibited use included hearing gunfire, seeing drug dependent homeless persons and/or suspected prostitutes in an area.

In the last two decades, playgrounds have gotten safer, more streamlined--and progressively worse. Today's playgrounds are distinctly less fun, and distinctly worse for kids. But there's a new vision for tomorrow's playgrounds--letting children design their ideal playgrounds, which parents and community leaders look through when selecting the playground's equipment.

Human beings are influenced by design every day through continuous contact with functional form in and through visual culture. They encounter a continuous current of such new styles as clothing fashions, architecture, furniture and advertisements. The American pursuit of happiness has become related to an increasing flow of products and consumerism. Design has become big business and makes a tangible contribution to the economy. Americans have increased their appetite for good style and are demanding more and well-designed products. However, art educators are not demonstrating the same interest in design education dictated in the national standards, publications and enrichment programs created outside of the art education field. In this article, Vande Zande discusses the importance of functional design as an integral component of a contemporary art education that is responsive to a visual culture consumer-driven society. Noting the attention given to design by business leaders, museum programs, architectural foundations and the educational disciplines of civics, language arts, mathematics, science and technology, Vande Zande advocates that the time is propitious for art educators to take the lead in design education, directing students through a study of human nature in covering the creation, selection and arrangement of the objects in their environment. (Includes 3 photographs and 2 endnotes.)

Playgrounds traditionally have been found in both schools and parks in America. Each year, parent-teacher associations and school administrations, as well as park and recreation departments, spend millions of dollars to provide playground structures. However, since 1981, HPER professionals and the public have become increasingly aware that these structures can also lead to injuries in children and pose a liability to the owner and operator of the play equipment. More than 200,000 children are injured annually in playground-related incidents that are serious enough for them to seek medical attention (Tinsworth & McDonald, 2001). Within the elementary school setting, 80 percent of injuries that occur at school happen on the playground (Bruya, 1998). One solution to this problem is to remove all play structures. After all, the reasoning goes, if no playground equipment is present, then the liability problem does not exist. However, this approach to the problem eliminates the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of children that can be gained from their interactions on play equipment. This zero approach also serves to devalue the play of children. This article reports on how SAFE America's school and park playgrounds are today, as found in the latest study. Specific topics that will be examined include a summary of the conditions of school and park playgrounds, a discussion of the four SAFE elements, and recommendations for change.

Recommendations are made on how communities can cope with the high cost of liability insurance imposed on recreational facilities. Suggestions are also made on maintaining high safety standards at parks, swimming pools, and playgrounds. (JD)

The evolution of children's playgrounds in the United States from the late 1800s to the present is discussed. This evolution was influenced by the development of kindergartens, nursery schools, public schools, and public parks. Essential elements in the building of developmentally appropriate playgrounds are outlined. (BB)

Mobile recreation units can bring a variety of program offerings to participants often missed by conventional programming. (JD)

Playgrounds should be diverse and flexible so that children have many different opportunities for natural, creative play. Equipment should encourage group activities, challenge children at different levels of development, and enhance physical fitness. Such playgrounds could receive enthusiastic public support. (PP)

Explores how community parks and schools can cooperate to create natural environments for their schools. Examples are provided of schoolyard improvement partnerships for elementary schools. (GR)

Presents Rotary Park in Mesa (Arizona), designed to be accessible to the disabled and developed by the Mesa Rotary Club, the city parks and recreation department, and county and federal agencies. Describes the park's origins, development, and special recreational equipment, including a physical fitness trail and multipurpose playing areas. (RW)

Briefly described is a sculpture project wherein all activities were related to Transportation Week. The Maplewood Community Services' Mobile Arts and Crafts Unit visited seven area playgrounds daily for eight weeks one summer, presenting new media, concepts, and experiences for children of all ages. (KC)

This article examines children's playgrounds as technological, spatial, and historical phenomena, juxtaposing their origins in the industrial era of the late 19th to early 20th centuries with Lightbug, a recent project to develop digitally augmented playground equipment. Questions of space, movement, mechanics, imagination, play, and technical and historical specificity will be explored and it will be suggested that attention to the industrial and machinic character of playground technology can highlight contemporary attitudes to, and possibilities for, children's outdoor play in the postdigital era. It asks questions about the introduction of digital technology and media forms into long-established physical play, about the physicality and technical nature of embodied play, and about the relationships between play, play environments, and imagination highlighted in times of technological change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the contamination state of the surface soil from 10 parks from Galati, Romania, and the health hazards of the soil. The soil samples, collected in each site from the playing ground and from the edge of the park, were analyzed by using combined Wavelength- (WDXRF) and Energy-Dispersive (EDXRF) X-ray fluorescence techniques. A total number of 27 chemical elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, Zn and Zr) were quantified in the urban soils, and the results were compared to the normal and alert values from Romanian legislation for toxic trace elements, as well as with European and world average values of element concentrations. The mineralogical analyses were performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Analysis (SEM-EDX) and the Attenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier Transform Infrared technique (ATR-FTIR). To assess the soil contamination and the impact on human health of the presence of potential toxic elements and heavy metals in the soil, a series of pollution and health risk indices were used. All the results indicated an unpolluted to moderately polluted soil. The soil samples collected from the edge of the parks presented higher values for the specific pollutants, which originated from heavy traffic, such as Cu, Cr, Zn and Pb. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk to children was assessed using estimated daily intake (EDI) in relation to the pathways whereby pollutants can enter the human body, such as ingestion, dermal contact, inhalation and vaporization. Using the obtained values for EDI, the hazard quotient and hazard index were determined, which strengthen the formerly issued presumption that soil pollution is moderate and, by itself, does not present any threat to children’s health.

Copyright of Revista Proyecto, Progreso, Arquitectura is the property of Proyecto, Progreso, Arquitectura and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The prevalence of childhood obesity is higher in economically and socially deprived areas. Higher levels of physical activity reduce the risk of excessive weight gain in youth, and research has focused on environmental factors associated with children's physical activity, though the term "physical activity desert" has not come into wide use. Methods: This exploratory study operationalized the term "physical activity desert" and tested the hypothesis that children living in physical activity deserts would be less physically active than children who do not. A cross-sectional study design was applied with 992 fifth-grade students who had provided objectively measured physical activity data. Five of 12 possible elements of the built environment were selected as descriptors of physical activity deserts, including no commercial facilities, no parks, low play spaces, no cohesion, and the presence of incivilities. Results: Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that only the absence of parks was associated with less physical activity in children. Conclusion: Children living in a "no park" zone were less active than their counterparts who lived near a park. This study contributes preliminary conceptual and operational definitions of "physical activity desert." Future studies of physical activity deserts should be undertaken in larger and more diverse samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art & Communication is the property of Turkish Online Journal of Design, Art & Communication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)