Young children's and adults' perceptions of natural play spaces: A case study of Chengdu, southwestern China

Urbanization has resulted in children in many cities being separated from contact with nature, despite the many benefits that this can provide for play and learning. Influenced by research and practice from the 'west' there is increasing evidence that in recent years these benefits for young children are being acknowledged and expressed in policy and practice in China. Chengdu, a rapidly expanding city in the south-west of China, has playgrounds in public spaces dominated by the Kit, Fence, Carpet approach but also has some kindergartens with a more natural approach, which supports a higher play and educational value. Nothing is known of parents' perceptions of different approaches to the provision of playgrounds and this paper seeks to begin to fill this gap. It reports on research with parents and young children at two kindergartens in Chengdu that sought to understand parents' perceptions of different playground styles, aesthetics and play risk associated with the different styles and children's perceptions of different playground styles. The results of an on-line questionnaire revealed that over 87% of the parents understood and recognized the benefits of natural elements within a playground. Vegetation and water were the most popular elements followed by sand and stone, landform and then insects and small animals. Physical and creative developments were the two most recognized development functions of natural elements acknowledged by the parents. Images of different playground styles were used with both adults and children and revealed that both groups tended to select a natural style with parents more inclined to select a higher degree of nature than children. Parents also considered that more natural playgrounds to be of low risk and attractive to look at. Two policy changes in China make this work of great significance: the change from one to two-child policy and the introduction of a natural education approach. The resultant increased numbers of children in future will benefit if the positive findings of this research inform policy and practice.