Analysis of Influential Factors in Design Elements of Child-Friendly Urban Spaces by Using Children's Drawings (Case Study: Parks and Playgrounds in Mashhad)

By 2025, about 60%of children will live in cities. These children need a healthy and safe environment for healthy growth and sufficient movement. However, such conditions are not provided in most cities of Iran. Correcting these conditions requires careful scientific and research investigations. To provide the spaces needed by children, this research sought to find out the needs of this group through drawings. The current descriptive and analytical study was conducted using children's paintings. Hence, the sample was 120 children aged between 6 and 15 years old which was selected and asked to draw the elements needed in the playgrounds. The drawings were evaluated using the content analysis method and considering the physical, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions. According to the results, the physical dimension occupied a more important place among other dimensions. In addition, children's growth happens through stages, and their preferences are completely different depending on the stage of development. According to the findings of this study, children up to the age of 9 pay attention to perceptual elements. At the age of 9, they emphasize the development of cognitive skills, and at the age of 13 and older, the emotional and social dimensions are more important. The presence of these elements in urban parks can ensure the health and physical fitness of children, leading to more presence of children and subsequently increasing the vitality, security, and happiness of adults in these spaces.