Elsevier

Building and Environment

Volume 42, Issue 10, October 2007, Pages 3455-3460
Building and Environment

Analysis of user's characteristics of three different playgrounds in districts with different socio-economical conditions

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2007.02.008Get rights and content

Abstract

During childhood, playgrounds have a great impact on development of children. Not only do well designed playgrounds help children fast problem solving ability but also increase their social interactive relationships. User surveys are sources of data to aid for planning, designing and management processing of playgrounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the playground users in districts which have different socio-economical structures in Erzurum. The study focuses on users of three different playgrounds, who belong to poor-middle-high income family groups. To identify the characteristics of playground users of three districts, a questionnaire survey was performed. Results were evaluated using Chi Square (χ2) Correlation Test.

Socio-economic conditions of the users were defined according to their incomes. From the outcomes, it was determined that among the playgrounds present in the districts where socio-economic conditions of the families differ user characteristics (gender, age and education level), family characteristics, problems and requirements were also significantly different. In the district where families are in the low income groups, the playgrounds (80%) are used by boys in majority (80%) and all the children (100%) in this district find the playgrounds inefficient. In the district where families are in the high income groups, again majority of the children interviewed (70%) reported they play in these areas with fear of falling down. As a consequence, it was clearly seen that more efficient playgrounds where children can play securely must be constructed.

Introduction

Urban planning, design and architecture can create the conditions necessary for the development of a sociable city [1]. In modern cities, open spaces, such as parks, sport areas and playgrounds are limited for people. Playgrounds also become more structured in modern cities [2].

Play is essential to children's growth and development and an essential aspect of children's culture and quality of life. Children learn about the world and come to an understanding of their own nature and capabilities by playing [3], [4]. Play is fundamental to how children develop their emotional, physical and intellectual potential. Play encourages children to explore, practice, build up skills, take risks, make mistakes and learn how to think imaginatively and creatively. Above all, play makes learning fun [5].

In literature, it was indicated that playground design influenced subjects, social as well as physical skill development and motor abilities [2], [6], [7]. Wachs [8] has focused on the development of effective child care environments. Three principles of early environmental action were; (1) the physical environment may be important for children development (2) different environmental components influence different aspects of development; (3) the effect of the environment on development would be moderate by individual characteristics of the child.

Researchers have focused on children's play at, well-designed, safe [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14] and also natural [2], [8], [15], [16] playgrounds.

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) promote children's participation as the best way to make cities more sustainable [17]. Understanding children's interest and wishes help us to provide for their needs in playgrounds [18]. We must identify their needs, their aspirations and ways of using new opportunities to build a sustainable future.

According to Francis and Lorenzo [19], participation of children in recreational planning and design has enjoyed increased among policy makers, designers and researches. They suggest that play areas are best planned with participation of children.

It was reported that in a survey of children's views, commissioned for National Playday, children said their playgrounds do not provide the equipment they want and prevent them from playing the games they enjoy. This survey showed that, 45% of the children said they could not play with water, 36% of them said they are prevented from climbing trees, 27% said they could not play on climbing equipment while 23% said they are prevented from riding bikes or skateboards [20].

In another research which was also followed by 2002 theme for Playday from Middlesex University shows that British children are in danger of having their mental and physical development stifled if prevented from taking risks in play.

In a study in England, The Play Space survey was based on the responses of 800 children aged between 4 and 16 years of age, contacted through the Playday Network and projects run by The Children's Society. Of the 800 children who completed the survey, 358 (44%) were from southern England, 222 (%28) from the North of England, 144 from Scotland and 76 (%10) from the English Midlands. The analysis show that, 221 (%27) children most often play in street, 255 (%31) children's favorite place to play out is park, 520 (%65) children have enough places for play out in the way they want [21].

User surveys are important sources of data to aid the planning, designing and management processing of playgrounds and also important to identify children's needs. The aim of the present study was to source data with user surveys. In this study, main objectives were; (1) to analyze three playgrounds in different status, (2) to describe how children's play was related to economic status of their families and their living areas, and (3) to source problems and requirements of children.

Section snippets

Materials and method

Erzurum is located in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey (39° 55; 41°46) .The average altitude is 1860 m; Erzurum city centre has an area of 3850 acres. The city is situated among steep mountains that are mostly higher than 3000 m ranging on the direction from east to west [22].

Playgrounds constructed in three different neighborhoods of the city, which are in different socio-economic conditions, were evaluated. These playgrounds are in the neighborhoods of the Ataturk University Campus,

Results

Totally 300 children, 110 female and 190 male with ages of 0–4 (30 children), 5–9 (150 children), 10–14 (120 children) were participated in the study (Table 2). From the outcomes it was seen that playgrounds are used mostly by male children (63.3%). For the neighborhoods studied, these percentages were 60%, 50% and 80% for male children in the playgrounds of 100.Yil Park, University and Telsizler, respectively. From these findings, it was determined that in low income area playground was mostly

Discussion and conclusion

In the present study, the questionnaires completed over three playgrounds in three different neighborhoods of whose socio-economic conditions were different, were evaluated using χ2 test. In the survey economic conditions of the users’ families were determined (Table 5) and it was found that income levels of families were significantly different than each other (χ2=371.416, p=0.000< 0.001).

In low socio-economic area (Telsizler), playground is used by mostly boys (80%) while in other two areas

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