Bortom den homogena barnbilden: En workshopstudie om hur ålder och autonomi formar anspråken på det offentliga rummet

Sammanfattning

This thesis explores how children and young people of different ages percieve, use and value urban spaces, with a particular focus on how age and autonomy shape their relationship to the city. The study addresses a gap in planning research where children are often treated as a homogenous group, despite differences in mobility, social relations and spatial experience across the age groups. The study was conducted as a qualitative workshop study in Sundsvall, Sweden, involving three age groups, 10, 14 and 18 year olds. Through drawings, discussions, place analysis and development proposals regarding Stora torget in Sundsvall, participants were invited to express their experiences and ideas about public environment. The collected material was analysed using thematic analysis through Braun & Clarke (2006) method. The results show that activities are central to how age groups value place, although the meaning of activities changes with age. Younger children emphasized play, sports and specific activities, while older students focused more on social interactions. Safety and social belonging were also recurring themes, where lively environments and the presence of other people contribute to feelings of security.The study demonstrates the children’s mobility and knowledge of urban spaces are closely connected to age and increasing independence. Younger children were more dependant on adults for transportation and access, whereas older students moved more freely and viewed the city as a social landscape. This is later argued as children and youth should not be understood as a single category within urban planning. Instead, their perspective vary significantly depending on age, autonomy and social context. A more nuanced understanding of these differences can contribute to more inclusive and child friendly strategies, where public spaces invite children instead of creating specific places for just them.