Restrictions to childcare, schools, and after-school programs during COVID-19 have meant that many programs and organizations have adapted to take place outdoors. To better understand the nature and extent of these adaptations, we conducted a Canada-wide environmental scan of outdoor play-based child and youth projects, programs, activities, and services available during the height of the pandemic (2020-2021) using a "formal searching" method. We identified 79 items in Canada related to outdoor play during COVID-19 and received 36 responses to our survey of child and youth-oriented outdoor play providers (conducted during May 2021). This scan highlights the overwhelming support for outdoor play during the pandemic and makes recommendations on how outdoor play may support post-pandemic recovery efforts.
Abstract:This paper discusses findings from an international, six-country research project that was undertaken by the International Play Association (IPA) to increase understanding of children's play needs in situations of conflict including natural, humanitarian and man-made disasters and persistent everyday hazards. The findings of this research confirm the importance of space, time, permission and resources as conditions for access to play even in situations of crisis. The study further illustrates children's adaptive capacity to manage risks in high-risk, unsafe environments through play, first as a coping mechanism and over time as a process of building resilience.
Abstract: This scoping review identified 36 peer-reviewed studies that used a co-creation, co-design or co-production process with children (0-17 years) to understand and/or influence the physical (built or natural) environment. We examined conceptualizations of child participation and of "co" processes. Our findings highlight the opportunity for developing and improving use of child participation models; how children and childhood are viewed by adults involved in the process matters; a need for more discriminate use of the terms co-creation, co-design and co-production with clear definitions; and confirmed the flexibility of "co" processes. Based on these findings, we developed a reporting checklist for physical environment-focused studies using "co" processes with children.
This study explores the relationships between adults' childhood nature exposure (NE), current NE, and mental well-being. Correlational data from two countries (Australia and Germany) found positive relationships between both childhood and current NE and numerous mental well-being indicators. However, the contribution of childhood NE was indirect, through its relationship to current NE. The German study also assessed ecological behavior and connectedness to nature, and although childhood NE maintained a marginal relation to both these variables, current NE was also precedent in these domains. The relationships between NE and mental well-being and ecological behavior were both mediated by connectedness to nature. Thus, for the mental well-being of humans and protection of the earth, nature exposure should be encouraged and maintained later in life.
Abstract: In this introductory paper to the theme edition of Children, Youth and Environments on Contemporary Issues in Designing for Play, we reflect on the shared commitment of scholars and practitioners to advancing inclusive, participatory and context-sensitive approaches to designing for play. We highlight the importance of both adult and child perspectives in shaping environments for play, the need for critical reflection in design processes, and the value of collaboration across disciplines. Similarly, we emphasize the value of practical, research-informed strategies to advance designing for play beyond conventional playground models, moving towards child-centered, place-based strategies that respond to local needs and global challenges. This collection brings together ten articles—six full papers and four field reports—each providing a valuable contribution to ongoing conversations about formal and informal environments and underlying issues of equity, cultural responsiveness and wellbeing.
Abstract: This study describes procedures for developing and exploring the content validity of a tool to audit playgrounds for play value and usability for diverse populations. Development of the tool included reviewing existing tools, creating an initial draft from evidence literature, followed by iterative rounds with an international, interdisciplinary expert panel (N=22). Panelists' comments and ratings of relevance and clarity supported refinements of items, content areas, scoring, instructions, and interpretations of the PVUA content. The preliminary tool consists of 203 items divided across 28 content areas and two domains. Future research should examine PVUA's reliability and construct validity using a diverse sample of playgrounds.
Abstract: Play and design both engage with what is (understanding) and what can be (imagining). These commonalities, we suggest, have been further developed by education in play and design. The study of ten Danish play design companies became the starting point for a strategic focus on play design at Kolding School of Design in Denmark. The purpose of this article is to show how the challenges and barriers in the field of play and design led to the establishment of a master's program in design for play, which has now expanded the field and the future of play design.
Abstract: While memory studies and play scholarship are well-established fields, little research has explored how adult memories of play shape children's play environments. This qualitative study uses grounded theory to investigate that intersection through interviews with 14 caregivers in a western Canadian city. Findings reveal that adult memories inform how caregivers design and engage with play spaces. Memory is a dynamic force, sometimes motivating play and other times restricting it, entangled with personal histories, cultural discourses, and material environments. These insights highlight memory's critical role in shaping contemporary play environments and suggest new directions for play design and education.
Abstract: This study examines children’s everyday experiences in Hanoi during Vietnam’s subsidy era (1955–1986), including the Vietnam-American war. Combining intergenerational interviews, photo elicitation, focus groups, and oral histories, we explore how children navigated socialist policies, food shortages, and other economic challenges. Despite limited resources, children demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness, creativity, and resilience, adapting to constraints through informal play and contributing to household economies. Their mobility and play in communal spaces fostered social ties and strengthened their coping capacity. Our findings contribute to literature on children’s resilience by revealing how Hanoi’s children actively shaped their play, labor, and mobilities amidst adversity.
Abstract: This report discusses my field experiences with street-connected children during my graduate study entitled, Social World of Street-Connected Children: Peer Friendship, Group Life, and Street Subculture . In this field report, I describe some of the challenges I faced in gaining access to the research setting and engaging potential child participants. Specifically, I highlight two issues that I encountered during interactions with street-connected children: their resistance to “outsiders” and their lack of interest in study participation. Working through these challenges emphasized the importance of ethical considerations throughout the research process when involving vulnerable populations like street-connected children, and highlights that children are agents in matters pertaining to their rights, and have a say in whether or not they want to be part of a study. This report indicates the importance of patience, flexibility, persistence, and openness to adjusting research plans for addressing access issues, and emphasizes that it is crucial to approach street-connected children with sensitivity and respect to build trust and establish positive relationships.
Abstract: This field report highlights this author/researcher’s experiences in gaining access to street-connected children in Ethiopia to conduct field research. I discuss the political challenges I encountered while I sought permission to access research settings and engage with potential street-connected child participants. This study highlights how political motives may drive officials to conceal the issue of street-connected children, creating false impressions for the public, visitors, or international guests suggesting the problem has been resolved. This is a politically motivated hurdle that Ethiopian researchers often face, requiring them to handle their work ethically and sensitively. They should be aware of these complexities and engage in negotiations with legal gatekeepers or authorities to navigate these political challenges, while upholding ethical and effective research standards. Overall, adopting both a problem-solving mindset and preparedness to readjust research plans is crucial to navigate legal barriers and ensure research progress.
Abstract: In a participatory landscape design project, we employed Tux Paint software to serve as a collaborative and appealing tool to empower primary-school children to express their ideas and thoughts about their schoolyard. This paper presents the utilization, outcome, and evaluation of this application of the customized software. The results indicate that it is a dynamic, creative, and collaborative tool, helping children to render spatially and clearly their landscape preferences. The software also proved to be a valuable tool for landscape architects who could more successfully develop a landscape design solution responsive to the needs and wishes children expressed in their drawings.
