Infuence of Neighborhood built environments on the outdoor free play of young children: a systematic, mixed‐studies review and thematic synthesis
Nearby parks, safe access routes, and neighborhood designs that facilitate social connection encourage young children’s outdoor free play
Children growing up in urban environments may have limited opportunities to engage in outdoor free play. An understanding of how built environments shape early experiences is critical to supporting children’s healthy development. This review examined existing literature to develop a comprehensive understanding of how neighborhood environments influence young children’s outdoor free play (OFP). Researchers explored the characteristics of urban and suburban neighborhood environments that influence OFP for young children under the age of 6 across a range of cultures and geographies.
An extensive search of the literature was conducted to identify studies focused on children’s (age 0–6 years) participation in OFP in urban or suburban neighborhood built environments. Outdoor free play was defined as “child-directed, outdoor activities outside of school hours or organized and adult-directed settings.” Research focused on rural contexts was excluded. The search yielded a total of 53 studies conducted with 24,792 parents, children, or parent/child pairs. The studies utilized different methodological approaches and included 28 quantitative, 19 qualitative, and six mixed methods research designs. The studies were conducted in 17 mostly Westernized countries. Children ages 2-6 years were the focus of the majority of studies; only four studies specifically focused on 0-2 year olds.
Researchers identified three themes that influence the availability, accessibility, and acceptability of neighborhoods for young children’s OFP: (1) features of spaces for play, (2) routes, and (3) social factors. The availability of neighborhood outdoor space for play, such as parks and playgrounds, close to home supported young children’s OFP. Long distances to play spaces were considered a barrier. Interestingly, children “viewed all spaces as potentially playable, engaging with their surroundings wherever possible” and demonstrated their ability to adapt informal areas for play. OFP was influenced by neighborhood design and housing type, although relationships between children’s housing type and OFP were inconsistent between studies. Findings regarding accessibility of play spaces highlighted the importance of safe access routes and traffic environments. High-traffic streets were the most common physical environment barrier to OFP, while sidewalks, bike, and walking paths were linked to more OFP in some studies.
The social context of neighborhoods, including systemic inequities, also influenced OFP. A study in a disadvantaged community in the U.S. revealed that parents did not allow OFP due to “fears of violence, crime, or hazards related to needles and other debris, despite availability of yard space.” In other studies, play was restricted by immigrant parents’ unfamiliarity with park locations and neighborhoods. Overall, not knowing neighbors was a barrier to OFP. On the other hand, “trusting neighbors, social connections, social cohesion, and collective efficacy supported OFP across contexts.” Specific family considerations that further impact children’s OFP included financial stress, long workdays, and parental exhaustion. In general, young children were drawn to natural environments and natural play materials. The acceptability of play spaces was related to perceived safety, elements of nature (particularly trees), and quality of park facilities. Young children were attracted by opportunities for challenging/risky play and interaction with other children. Across ethnic and cultural groups, the presence of outdoor play space, natural environments, and safe routes were consistent facilitators of OFP. Overall, gender based differences in OFP were not documented, however, some studies suggested that social norms and gender modeling present a barrier to young girls’ OFP and that boys may engage in OFP more frequently.
The review demonstrates the importance of the availability of play space, either as parks/playgrounds or as informal areas children can adapt for play, close to home. Additionally, safety, traffic-protected routes, access to nature, and opportunities for social connection are critical. Overall, the study contributes to “a conception of playable neighborhoods as networks of physically and socially safe and engaging routes and spaces.” Urban neighborhood design should incorporate the needs and perspectives of young children to create everyday environments that enable optimal child health and development, while also ensuring more equitable access to play spaces. Further research should prioritize non-westernized urban settings.
Citation
Gemmell, E., Ramsden, R., Brussoni, M., Brauer, M., (2023). Infuence of Neighborhood built environments on the outdoor free play of young children: a systematic, mixed‐studies review and thematic synthesis. Journal of Urban Health, 100,
