Western Australian parents credit blue spaces with increasing children’s physical activity, mental health and environmentalism This study is the first to document how young Australian children in a coastal city use blue spaces (oceans, rivers, swamps, creeks, lakes) and what parents perceive as the benefits of those outdoor activities around water. It was warranted because most children and nature research has focused on green spaces—not blue spaces. In addition, most studies of blue spaces have been conducted in Europe, not Australia, a coastal country with extensive beaches and ocean access. Therefore, this study aimed to explore Western Australian parents’ perceptions of how their young children use blue spaces, the perceived benefits of blue spaces, and the enablers and barriers to children and families enjoying blue spaces.
The study interviewed 25 parents of young children (primarily age 2-10) from low-SES and high-SES communities across Perth, Western Australia. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews regarding children’s interactions with blue spaces and transcribed them to be analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. This data documented the frequency of blue space visits and the distances families traveled to use specific beaches. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data grouped similar responses into the following categories: factors affecting families’ use of blue space, environmental awareness, child health, and child development.
This research determined that beaches were by far the most popular blue space where parents took young children. However, proximity to beaches affected use much less than features of the built environment and natural environment. For example, the cost and availability of parking, amenities (bike racks, ramps, toilets, showers, food outlets), shark nets and lifeguards, dog policies, weather, shade, access to nearby green space, and wave conditions impacted use more than the distance families needed to travel to access water. As for the positive effects of children’s use of blue spaces, parents perceived their children developed environmental awareness, pro-environmental behaviors, connections to nature, and Aboriginal connections to Country (indigenous Australian). They also perceived that blue spaces (especially beaches) facilitated kids’ physical activity, family connections, unstructured/free play, higher Vitamin D levels, mental health, emotional regulation, better sleep, and overall behavior. Plus, beaches provided restoration, replaced screen time with social time and family time, and offered intentional engagements with risk which increased kids’ confidence, resilience, and positive identity development.
These findings point to many perceived benefits of beaches and other types of blue space for young children in coastal Australia, particularly Perth. In particular, parents emphasized how blue spaces supported their children’s health and well-being by encouraging them to engage in physical activity and enjoy social time as a family. Poor access to public transportation, parking fees, and limited parking and bike racks were important barriers to families taking their children to nearby beaches or choosing active transport, such as bikes or scooters, over automobiles. Given the perceived barriers and enablers to children’s nature engagement in blue spaces, local government should prioritize beach amenities that are family-friendly, such as adequate parking and bike access, showers/toilets, adjacent green space, shade, access to cafes, shark nets, lifeguards, and dog-friendly policies.
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