Public Parks and Playgrounds as Democratic Spaces for Young Children: Playing with Abandon

Author:   Daniel R. Meier
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
ISBN:  

9781032931630


Pages:   184
Publication Date:   06 February 2026
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   Not yet available   Availability explained
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

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Public Parks and Playgrounds as Democratic Spaces for Young Children: Playing with Abandon


Overview

This book examines children’s play in public city parks and playgrounds as they pursue their agendas for joy, healing, discovery, and democratic engagement. It offers an understanding of relevant theory and approaches for strengthening public city parks and playgrounds as spaces for children’s healthy development and civic engagement. The book features an introduction, six diary interludes between chapters, and six chapters that examine critical dimensions of children’s play in public city parks and playgrounds. Each chapter features a discussion of relevant research and theory, as well as original research from the author’s observational visits to public parks and playgrounds, as well as interviews with scholars, parents, and park designers. The book also features over 30 photographs of parks and playgrounds to illustrate key aspects of design, children’s play, and civic engagement. The book is intended for researchers in the fields of children’s play, city planning, public spaces, and children’s geographies, as well as educators, parents, and open space and children’s play advocates.

Full Product Details

Author:   Daniel R. Meier
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Weight:   0.520kg
ISBN:  

9781032931630


ISBN 10:   1032931639
Pages:   184
Publication Date:   06 February 2026
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Not yet available   Availability explained
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

Children's Rights and Play in Public Spaces Diary Interlude — Boeddeker Park, San Francisco, CA 2. Challenges to Children's Play — Environmental Justice, Equity, and Inclusion Diary Interlude — Cedar Rose Park, Berkeley, CA 3. Children's Play as Socio-Spatial Practice Diary Interlude — Keller Beach, Miller/Knox Park, Point Richmond, CA 4. Natural and Built Environments — Pursuing Beauty and Joy in Play Diary Interlude — Woh Hei Yuen Park, Chinatown, San Francisco 5. Parks and Playgrounds as Communal Sites for Democracy Diary Interlude — DeFremery Park, Oakland, CA 6. Future Thinking — Parks, Playgrounds, and Socially Just Cities

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Author Information

Daniel R. Meier is Professor of Elementary Education at San Francisco State University. Meier’s teaching and scholarship focus on children’s language and literacy development, nature education, teacher inquiry, qualitative research, and international education. Meier has written and edited over ten books and numerous articles and presented his research nationally and internationally. He is currently at work on a collaborative project examining the value of speculative fiction in teacher education and a book on the role of paper in preserving family artifacts and memories.

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