Commodifying the countryside: The impact of out-of-school care on rural landscapes of children's play

Abstract

The growing interest in rural geography has highlighted that symbolic representations of the 'rural idyll' are often contradictory to the lived experiences of many rural children. Increasingly, children's spatial mobility is restricted due to adult concerns over children's use of public space, and the continuing privatization of rural space. Whilst children are prevented from using the countryside as a resource, there is also a lack of provision and spaces dedicated to children's play. One exception to this is the development of out-of-school care schemes. The rapidly expanding out-of-school care service is providing rural children with a significant, well-resourced place for children to play. This paper examines children's experiences of playing in the countryside, and discusses the impact of the developing out-of-school care service on the daily lives of children who experience the service. The paper also considers the impact of commodifying children's play on the ability of all children to access a local play service.