Developing a Perception of a Place as Home among Children in an Isolated Desert Town

Abstract

This study focuses on the perception of a “place” as “home” and on place attachment among children. The aim was to understand how these perceptions contribute to the development of environmental citizenship. The research was conducted in an isolated desert town, following an intervention program aimed at encouraging deeper attachment to a locale. The results led us to define categories of children’s perceptions that each represents a different connection to the environment. A comparison of children's attachment to their locale before and after the intervention suggests a strengthening of “place attachment” and an increased sense of empowerment with regard to their ability to improve their surroundings.