An intergenerational study of perceptions of changes in active free play among families from rural areas of Western Canada

Abstract

BackgroundChildren’s engagement in active free play has declined across recent generations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of intergenerational changes in active free play among families from rural areas. We addressed two research questions: (1) How has active free play changed across three generations? (2) What suggestions do participants have for reviving active free play?MethodsData were collected via 49 individual interviews with members of 16 families (15 grandparents, 16 parents, and 18 children) residing in rural areas/small towns in the Province of Alberta (Canada). Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis guided by an ecological framework of active free play.ResultsFactors that depicted the changing nature of active free play were coded in the themes of less imagination/more technology, safety concerns, surveillance, other children to play with, purposeful physical activity, play spaces/organized activities, and the good parenting ideal. Suggestions for reviving active free play were coded in the themes of enhance facilities to keep kids entertained, provide more opportunities for supervised play, create more community events, and decrease use of technology.ConclusionsThese results reinforce the need to consider multiple levels of social ecology in the study of active free play, and highlight the importance of community-based initiatives to revive active free play in ways that are consistent with contemporary notions of good parenting.

It’s about being the good parent: exploring attitudes and beliefs towards active school transportation

“…This has been referred to as the bubble-wrap generation, illustrating parents' wishes to protect their children from anything happening to them [31]. Also, to protect children, the decreased levels of children's independent mobility has had unintended consequences, such as decreased everyday physical activity, lack of social skills, less use of imagination, and reduced self-efficacy and environmental competence [31,32].…”

Children’s Independent Mobility and Physical Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study with Families

“…Participants included children between the ages of seven and twelve and their parents or guardians living in a northern British Columbia community (see [ 29 ] for a detailed description of the region). The age range seven to twelve yearswas chosen to be consistent with previous literature and because evidence suggests this is when independent mobility behaviours develop [ 30 , 31 ]. Participants were recruited through affiliated networks and organizational connections of the research team.…”

A gyermekkori játéktevékenységre való visszaemlékezés és a felnőttkori félelmek kapcsolata: játék zárt helyen és a szabadban

“…A családi kapcsolatok eróziója akadályozza a képességek, szerepek és szociális kapcsolatok kiépí-tését, továbbá korlátozza a szabad játék kibontakozását, valamint az otthontól távoleső, a szülők felügyelete nélkül zajló játék lehetőségeit. Napjainkban, az évtizedekkel korábban rendelkezésre álló játszóhelyek szűkösségé-ből fakadó szocializációs hátrányok azonban számos várható nehézségre figyelmeztetnek (Holt, 2016). A hátrányok megmutatkozhatnak a gyermekkori szorongások, fóbiák és ezek következtében kialakuló felnőttkori félel-mek megjelenésében (Bowlby, 1973).…”

“…A gyermekek számára a szomszédok, a család és a baráti kapcsolatok által kialakított védőháló kiterjedése azonban egyre kisebb, amelynek kö-vetkezményeként az aggódó szülők gyakrabban korlátozzák a gyermekek szabadtéri játéktevékenységét (Carver, Timperio, & Craword, 2008;Holt, 2016). Az otthonon kívüli környezet jelentős része a szükséges affordanciák hiánya miatt kiesik a potenciális játékterek repertoárjából (Gibson, 1979;Kyttä, 2006).…”