Childhood in the City: The Children in Focus

Research indicates that children have spent more time in institutionalised places than in public spaces (WARD, 1978; RASMUSSEN, SMIDT, 2003; TONUCCI, 1996). However, the same studies show the ability of these children in breaking the charges of adults, transforming spaces planned for them in their places. Thus, the claim that urban children experience fewer public spaces is not universal but may vary from city to city, neighborhood to neighborhood depending on the social groups that live there. The present work aims to study specifically how four five-year-old children, two girls and two boys, who live in Brasília/Distrito Federal/Brazil, perceive the city. Thus, from the recognition of children as social agents, producing meaning and that regardless of their size interact with the physical environment (CHRISTENSEN; O'BRIEN, 2003), we propose this research. The methodology of the study considers the child as a primary informant and seeks to involve their perspectives from visual methods connected to the narrative. Each child was invited to build a city map with blocks of wood and artifacts in miniature, like cars and trees. Later, presenting the picture of the city map construction, it was possible to conduct a photo-elicitation exercise (CLARK-IBÁÑEZ, 2004; BANKS, 2009). The methodology helped to increase the involvement of children in discussing aspects related to their urban experiences.