Children's experiences: Enjoyment and fun as additional encouragement for walking to school

Journal article


Romero, Vivian. (2015). Children's experiences: Enjoyment and fun as additional encouragement for walking to school. Journal of Transport and Health. 2(2), pp. 230 - 237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2015.01.002
AuthorsRomero, Vivian
Abstract

This paper argues that highlighting the enjoyment or fun aspects of children׳s experiences can also encourage walking to school. It seeks to identify and understand the neighbourhood attributes contributing to an enjoyable walk to school from the perspectives of children. A group of 178 children (9–11 years old) was drawn from eight government primary schools situated in Sydney metropolitan neighbourhoods. A combination of a written questionnaire, a drawing activity and focus group discussions was employed to understand firstly the nature of children׳s fun while walking to school and secondly, the neighbourhood attributes that can promote such enjoyment. The findings reveal how their interactions with nature, recreational amenities and retail spaces contributed to their enjoyment of playful, sensory, autonomous as well as social types of experiences. In accepting children׳s experiences as fundamental to the understanding of their school journeys, practitioners and academics can thereby research, create and promote environments that directly respond to children׳s needs and interests to walk to school.

Keywordswalk to school; children's experiences; fun; neighbourhood
Year2015
JournalJournal of Transport and Health
Journal citation2 (2), pp. 230 - 237
PublisherElsevier B.V.
ISSN2214-1405
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2015.01.002
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84948746316
Page range230 - 237
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationNetherlands
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https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/86215/children-s-experiences-enjoyment-and-fun-as-additional-encouragement-for-walking-to-school

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