TY - JOUR
T1 - Changing recess geographies: children’s perceptions of a schoolyard renovation project promoting physical activity
AU - Pawlowski, Charlotte Skau
AU - Andersen, Henriette Bondo
AU - Arvidsen, Jan
AU - Schipperijn, Jasper
PY - 2019/11/2
Y1 - 2019/11/2
N2 - Insights into children?s perceptions of their changing recess geographies are absent. The current paper provides qualitative evidence from 5 renewed schoolyards by investigating children?s perceptions of their new schoolyards. Ten focus groups (2 at each school) including go-along interviews were conducted, in total 57 4 to 8 graders (28 girls). The functional aspects of the altered child?environment relationship were assessed using Gibson?s concept of affordance, and changes in the meanings ascribed to the schoolyards by the children were studied by engaging a concept of place. Our findings reveal that schoolyards offering multiple potential affordances for physical activity seem more likely to engage a broader group of children in recess physical activity. The analysis, however, could point to a difference between places designed for children?s play and places where children actually play. To optimise actualisation of the potential affordances for recess physical activity, involving children throughout intervention planning and decision-making is crucial.
AB - Insights into children?s perceptions of their changing recess geographies are absent. The current paper provides qualitative evidence from 5 renewed schoolyards by investigating children?s perceptions of their new schoolyards. Ten focus groups (2 at each school) including go-along interviews were conducted, in total 57 4 to 8 graders (28 girls). The functional aspects of the altered child?environment relationship were assessed using Gibson?s concept of affordance, and changes in the meanings ascribed to the schoolyards by the children were studied by engaging a concept of place. Our findings reveal that schoolyards offering multiple potential affordances for physical activity seem more likely to engage a broader group of children in recess physical activity. The analysis, however, could point to a difference between places designed for children?s play and places where children actually play. To optimise actualisation of the potential affordances for recess physical activity, involving children throughout intervention planning and decision-making is crucial.
KW - Children
KW - affordances
KW - focus group interview
KW - intervention study
KW - recess physical activity
KW - schoolyard renovation
U2 - 10.1080/14733285.2019.1582754
DO - 10.1080/14733285.2019.1582754
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1473-3285
VL - 17
SP - 664
EP - 675
JO - Children's Geographies
JF - Children's Geographies
IS - 6
ER -