Uses of Time

As a result of a participatory process with children aged between 10 and 12, the Institute of Childhood and Adolescence has highlighted the need for children to spend more time with their parents, to be out in their community and to have more green spaces, places and time for playing. Therefore, a play plan has been drawn up, revolving around three axes: physical transformation, play promotion and a paradigm shift.

‘Playing in the squares’ consists of providing children, young people and their families with play opportunities of all kinds (board games, symbolic play, construction games, and more) in the city’s public spaces – generally parks and squares – in order to foster shared, outdoor entertainment in these spaces. In fact, this is an initiative that has already been implemented in various places in the city and is now being consolidated and structured as part of the Educating City and within the parameters of the Public Space Play Plan for 2030.

The aim of this initiative is to encourage children to meet in squares and in parks to play. In turn, this will contribute towards creating more suitable urban environments for growing up and making the most of childhood. So, ‘Playing in the squares’ is an initiative that offers specific actions through periodic encouragement of play and activities in Barcelona’s squares which boosts the public space’s role as a space for education that promotes comprehensive, healthy development among the city’s children and adolescents. It is made up of actions that promote fun on squares, in order to enrich the urban environment for children, families and the community while making sure the public space becomes a place for positive relationships and for learning.

Currently, it reaches around 50 squares in a quarter of the city's neighborhoods. Some formats adopted by the recreational proposals deployed within the “Let's Play in the Squares” program, which contribute to making Barcelona a playable city, are as follows:
 

• The Mobile Games Kiosk: This is a mobile games cart with a variety of recreational activities available to children, teenagers, and their families. It is run by monitors who accompany the games and ensure that the activity runs smoothly and that the equipment is used properly.
   
• Guingueta of games: A pop-up play area consisting of different play corners (building blocks, symbolic games, board games, etc.) adapted to different age groups. The play area is set up and taken down according to the service schedule. When not in use, the games and toys are stored in a playhouse or similar structure. It is a permanent play area run by specialized play monitors who ensure that the space runs smoothly and supervise the games.

Time Impacts:

• Promotion of healthy use of time.
• Improvement of quality and equity in leisure and educational activities.
• Reduction of unwanted loneliness and/or strengthening of social support networks.

More information:
We play in the squares (Spanish)