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.

So far, 47 proposals have been developed in different formats on 27 of the city’s squares. One example is a mobile system called the Games Kiosk, which incorporates a collection of games and various entertainment materials, including traditional games, circus games, board games, large-format street games, discovery and experimentation games, etc. This Games Kiosk is offered periodically in two spaces in the district of Sant Andreu. This proposal will eventually move around the city’s different squares and districts. 

Other formats that adopt the play proposals implemented in the ‘Playing in the squares’ programme and contribute towards making Barcelona a play-friendly city are as follows:

• The mobile games kiosk

This is a mobile kiosk that offers a collection of games and toys that can be used by children, adolescents and their families. It is run by supervisors who help with the games, make sure the activities are running correctly and ensure that the materials are being used properly. 

• The game hut

This is a fold-up play area made up of different play corners (construction, symbolic play, board games, etc.) adapted to different age brackets. The play area is assembled and dismantled according to the service hours. When it is not in operation, the games and toys are stored in some sort of hut. This is a fixed play area run by supervisors who specialise in games. They make sure the space is operating properly and help with the games.

Further information:
We play in the squares (Spanish)