The effectiveness of inclusive playground usage for children through behavior-setting approach in Tembalang, Semarang city

Authors: Ristianti, N. S., & Widjajanti, R.

Playgrounds as urban public spaces are intended to explore cognitive, motoric, and social interaction abilities. Playgrounds must be inclusive as a justice space for children to create effective usage of playgrounds through a behavior-setting approach. In 2018, Semarang City received an award as an Intermediate Child-Friendly City. Tembalang is one of the areas in Semarang City with children growth of about 44% of the total population of Tembalang in 2018. In Tembalang, there are nine playground locations as the focus of this research. This research aims to examine the effectiveness of inclusive playground usage for children through the behavior-setting approach in Tembalang. The research method is quantitative descriptive. It is conducted by interviewing children as users to assess playground effectiveness usage based on the connection with nature, physical activities, and social interaction aspects. Based on the analysis, it shows that the playgrounds are not effective based on the connection with natural aspect; 40% children cannot see animal activities (such as flying birds, swimming fish, and jumping frogs) and they cannot play with natural responsive material (such as playing sands, fishing, making tree music, and throwing stones into the water). On the other hand, the playgrounds have already been used effectively based on the physical activities aspect; 51% of children can run around, jump around, and play in the playground zone. Likewise, based on the social interaction aspect, it is indicated that the playgrounds have already been used effectively; 53% of children can create meeting ground and space for children’s learning to greet each other. As a result, the effectiveness of inclusive playground usage in Tembalang still needs to improve to be sustainable to accommodate children’s activities in urban public spaces.

IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science

2020