The (city)age matters! Conceptions, experiences and wanderings of young children

Abstract:

Working theoretically on the idea of generation and the diversity of children's experiences in the public space is a challenge that has gained visibility in recent years. Centred, above all, on ideas such as the right to the city and the public space by different generational groups and the rights to participate in the construction and design of spaces suitable for different ages, the theoretical perspectives have highlighted children's competences in analysing, experiencing and living the public space. At the same time, the tensions and difficulties of these processes are discussed based on the Sociology of Childhood. The case study carried out in a kindergarten in Lisbon, during the school year of 2019/2020, wanted to characterize children's conceptions and experiences about the neighbourhood where they live, thus breaking the idea of exclusion of younger children about thinking about the city and the environments they live and experience, every day. In the end, different questions are raised based on the theoretical frameworks worked and the analyses carried out.

Keywords:
Children; City; Kindergarten; Portugal