Children's Voices and the Construction of Children's Spaces

The Example of Playcare Centers in the United Kingdom

Abstract

The way children's spaces, such as childcare and play environments, are developed, generally neglect to involve children in the planning process. This paper is based on a study of playeare provision, defined as providing care for children aged five to twelve in communal settings which explicitly offer creative play opportunities. It examines the role of children in determining the sort of playeare environment they spend time in after school and during school holidays. Children are increasingly excluded from the independent use of public space which has important implications for the kinds of play opportunities available to them. The paper shows one possible way of enabling children to exercise their right to play through the use of playeare centers. The research was designed to provide a public forum for the voices of children, to allow them to express their own views and opinions about what happens to them outside school hours.