Neighbourhood Safety and Outdoor Play Activities among Urban Children in Shah Alam, Malaysia

Abstract

Most of the generation born in the 70s to the 80s usually are attached to their memories of bathing and playing in the river, climbing trees, playing slingshot and catching fish in the pond without an adult supervision. Children nowadays do not have the privilege of experiencing the same thing. Today, they no longer have the freedom to roam around and enjoy the outdoors, as there is a high exposure to danger that comes with the development. The aim of this research is to understand the connection of neighbourhood safety with outdoor play activities among urban children. Data were derived from focus group interviews and children's drawings that were gained from a research participatory workshop in a primary school and a day care center in Shah Alam. Children aged 10 and 11 from the school were selected as the respondents in this research. This research found that a stranger harm came out as the most significant issue that affect children's outdoor play in urban neighbourhood. In Shah Alam, neighbourhood safety seems to be related to outdoor play activities. Outdoor play activities may be best encouraged by improving different safety components, rather than focusing one safety aspect such as traffic safety.