This research was prompted by the growing popularity of children's playspaces inside shopping malls in Turkey and a concern about what this growth reflects regarding children's right to play. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) supports play as one of children's fundamental rights. Play consistent with the framework provided by the UNCRC calls for places to play that are safe and that children can access free of charge. Children's right to play is also to be recognized as a right in itself and not necessarily instrumental for children's development and education. Other than providing for safety, shopping mall playspaces tend to fall outside this framework. Additionally, shopping mall playspaces and other commercially-developed playspaces are reflections of the socio-economic transformations brought about by neoliberal restructuring in Istanbul.
Fieldwork consisting of observations, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews focused on two private play centers called “children's cities” and one public playground in Istanbul. Observational data included field notes and photos documenting the organization and design of the spaces and the activities occurring there. Documents accessed for information included brochures, signs, and related online resources. One teacher and ten parents participated in interviews as they accompanied their children to the “children's cities.” Four parents participated in interviews at the public playground.
A concern about safety and security against real or perceived threats was one of the primary reasons parents gave for visiting children's cities. They also noted cleanliness and educatory factors as reasons for choosing playspaces inside malls. Educatory factors were described in terms of playspace features “promoting learning” and providing “meaningful fun.” Not all children have access to “children's cities,” as expense and transportation issues prevent some children from using them.
Interviewees at the public playground also cited safety as a concern. They expressed the need to accompany their children outdoors rather than allowing them to play independently. They also expressed concern about the poor conditions of the outdoor playspaces – broken benches, traffic nearby, and lack of adult supervision.
This study indicates that neither the privatized indoor play opportunities nor the outdoor public playspaces in Istanbul provide the kind of opportunities needed to adequately address children's right to play. This research identified the neoliberal restructuring of the city as a major factor impeding the municipalities' willingness and capacity to provide public services. As a result, neighborhoods are deprived of outdoor public spaces, in favor of privatized, structured and, for some, less accessible indoor play spaces, resulting in neither setting being appropriate for meeting children's right to play.
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