From Barnyards to Backyards

An Exploration Through Adult Memories and Children's Narratives in Search of an Ideal Playscape

Abstract

In order to explore changes in the residential outdoor play landscape, this study surveyed adult memories of middle-childhood experiences and interviewed children. The physical landscape as well as personal meanings attached to childhood places were studied for both adults and children. Though both groups showed an unquestionable preference for the outdoors, it appeared as though the amount of imaginary, creative, and non-equipment game play was reduced. Probably the largest changes occurred in the extended home yard environments, where fields, woods, and orchards were replaced by formal city parks and busy streets. These landscape changes, as well as personal meanings of place, address important interdisciplinary issues.