Children and young people’s views on using local streets for play and informal recreation
This report forms part of the research for Playday 2007. The theme of Playday 2007 ‘Our streets too!’ highlights the need for change, so that children, young people and their families can feel confident about playing in streets and areas near their homes all year round. The campaign also highlights that play-friendly streets offer huge benefits to the whole community.
This report is based upon a qualitative study of children and young people’s experiences – good and bad – of using their local streets and wider neighbourhoods for play and informal recreation. Focus groups with children in eight locations took place in England and Wales to find out how children use their streets for play – and what they feel prevents or restricts their use of public space for enjoyment.
The research for this campaign has four parts, which when read in conjunction, provides a valuable insight into how children and young people enjoy the immediate public realm – and worryingly – how their play and informal recreation is becoming increasingly restricted.
