Public parks and playgrounds as places for children's well-being in their free time

More and more children are growing up in urban environments; this trend will persist in the upcoming decades. In such environments, where space is often densely built and highly privatized and where public space is moderately accessible to young children, public parks and playgrounds constitute paramount spaces for children’s wellbeing and development in the context of their free time. Through the example of Brussels, Capital of Belgium and city of the European institutions, we analyze individual and contextual factors that hinder and facilitate the use of public parks and playgrounds for children, namely spatial, social, and cultural factors. Our analysis is based on semi-structured interviews conducted with 50 parents of children aged from two to eight years who live in contrasted areas of Brussels. Given the socio-ecological framework of our study, the impact of the unequal geographical distribution of these outdoor infrastructures on children’s wellbeing is discussed in relation to the rebalancing strategy undertaken by local responsible institutions. To broaden the discussion, we call on three theoretical references. First, the principle of child-friendly cities allows us to connect discussed issues with children’s rights. Second, the notion of playful potential of a space helps us rethink the whole city, rather than just parks and playgrounds, through the lens of play. Third, the distinction between places for children and children’s places leads us to reflect on the fact that, even in their free time, children are growingly confronted to institutionalized experiences. Ways to avoid children experiencing fenced-in childhoods need to be addressed.