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Relationship of the child to his neighbourhood environment

University of British Columbia

THE AREA OF CONCERN This thesis looks at two actual neighbourhoods within Vancouver - a high density urban, and a low density suburban environment. Using these neighbourhood environments, an attempt is made to see if children act or are affected in ways which can be traced to the layout and amenities of the physical environment. Data has been gathered concerning the physical structure of the environments, and is examined in relation to how the children use these environments, and in relation to the attitudes that parents, or institutions responsible for child socialization, have towards the effect of these environments on the children and themselves. THE METHODS OF INVESTIGATION This data has been gathered by my own observations, by interviewing children and key resource people who work or reside in the neighourhood, and by handing out questionnaires to parents involved with raising children in the sample areas. CONCLUSIONS The data shows that in different types of neighbourhood communities, children use and interact with the environment in different ways. It shows that the behaviour of children is modified because of the physical environment they grow up within. It shows that children of different ages and sexes have differing needs, and that their use of the environment is constantly changing as they grow and search for ways to satisfy these needs. The analysis of this data begins to show deficiencies and strengths in the planning and layout of the physical environments, and how these potentially affect children. From this analysis certain proposed solutions have been arrived at - solutions which the author feels can make the child’s environment more appropriate to his developmental needs,and more in keeping with the desires of his family and self.

Text

2011-05-24

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/34774

Architecture

University of British Columbia

Graduate