Children's view of child friendly environment in a low cost high density urban neighbourhood

Abstract

Child-friendly environment allures children to become active citizens. This environment in turn increases the children’s quality of life. Children’s physical, social and mental skills which are essential in their later adult life are achieved through their interaction with the outdoor environment. The environment encompasses a network of places where children can experience a sense of belonging individually or collectively. Children participation in shaping their settings plays a role in the creation of child-friendly environments. Nowadays, children are not only forced to be in places that are not relevant from their point of view, but with various constraints that reduce their movement in outdoor environment. The aim of the research is to determine the child-friendly environment from the view of Malaysian children in places that they play and interact in urban neighbourhood. This is to reveal the factors that influence the range of children’s movement and the places they interact and play among middle childhood age (7 to 11 years old) in urban neighbourhood. This research was conducted at Flat Larkin, a residential area in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Data was elicited using three methods, namely, survey questionnaire (N=120), seven-day-activity log (N=39), and children’s drawings (N=52). Confirmatory factor analysis, frequency analysis, and content analysis were used to analyse the data to acquire results. The results revealed three main constructs which are independence, humanity and outdoor environment that affecting children’s range of movement in urban neighbourhood. Playgrounds and courtyards were the most visited open places for playing and interaction in the urban neighbourhood. Recreational services with emphasis on natural elements in children’s drawing afforded highest contribution to ideal places for children play. The result showed that as children play in the outdoor environment, their personal relationships with the environment are formed. An assessment model for a child- friendly environment was constructed which comprises of two central criteria for friendliness which are the amount of outdoor environment for children play and children’s range of movement. The model can contribute to a better understanding of children’s interaction and play in outdoor environment in their urban neighbourhood, and highlight the importance of such environment in promoting outdoor play.