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«Slow! Children at Play»: Localization of Childhood in Moscow Playgrounds in Winter

Author

Listed:
  • Elena A. Gudova

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics)

Abstract

Children and adults have different abilities and power in the city space. Playgrounds, as one of the places for children, illustrate the localization of childhood. Play area design is established by adults, and the quality of play materials may influence the variety of games and types of play but outdoor playgrounds are also influenced by a factor which was previously ignored – the weather. In this paper it is questioned how weather conditions may influence children’s play behaviour and spatial practices in a winter playground. Through observations of two Moscow playgrounds in December – January 2014-2015 and June 2015, we show that winter playgrounds even enrich the playing possibilities with the accessibility of snow as “loose part” materials. Winter weather not only allows children’s creativity in games but also redefine the symbolical borders of a playground and its equipment, turning the playground into a unified space. As children can play on the playground, with the playground, and beneath its blurry borders as well, the spatial and power inequality between children and adults slightly reduces, and city space becomes more democratized.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena A. Gudova, 2016. "«Slow! Children at Play»: Localization of Childhood in Moscow Playgrounds in Winter," HSE Working papers WP BRP 06/URB/2016, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hig:wpaper:06/urb/2016
    as

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    File URL: https://wp.hse.ru/data/2016/12/06/1113068938/06URB2016.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fyhri, Aslak & Hjorthol, Randi & Mackett, Roger L. & Fotel, Trine Nordgaard & Kyttä, Marketta, 2011. "Children's active travel and independent mobility in four countries: Development, social contributing trends and measures," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(5), pages 703-710, September.
    2. Lia Karsten, 2003. "Family Gentrifiers: Challenging the City as a Place Simultaneously to Build a Career and to Raise Children," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 40(12), pages 2573-2584, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    playgrounds; weather conditions; winter cities; inequality; children’s creativity; loose parts materials;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q26 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Recreational Aspects of Natural Resources
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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