A Curiosity About Links Between Adventure Playgrounds, Loose Parts, Playwork Approach, a State of "Flow" and Children’s Wellbeing

Angus Ian Gorrie, Swinburne UniversityFollow

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25035/ijpp.02.01.01

Abstract

Over the past century there has been a documented rise in childhood anxiety and depression (Gray, 2011; Twenge, 2001). This increase largely correlates to the significant decrease in the amount of time children have to play freely (Gray, 2013). The suggested reason for this is a decrease in free time and play creating a strong external locus of control, the result of which has been shown to cause increases in childhood anxiety and depression (April, Dharani, & Peter, 2012; Gray, 2013). This paper records a practitioner’s musings on the links between aspects of playwork practice and children’s wellbeing. It considers Csikszentmihalyi (2008) concept of a state of flow and the development of an internal locus of control and the opportunities afforded children in an adventure playground wedded to playwork theory and practice.

Recommended Citation

Gorrie, A. I. (2021). A Curiosity About Links Between Adventure Playgrounds, Loose Parts, Playwork Approach, a State of "Flow" and Children’s Wellbeing. International Journal of Playwork Practice, 2(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.25035/ijpp.02.01.01