Bendruomenės erdvės pritaikymo galimybės vaikų poilsiui ir žaidimams

Abstract

The formulation of the scientific problem Community areas are the places where children can spend their leisure time and play. However, the proper purpose of them has not been clearly defined in Lithuania yet. The reports of the municipalities of Lithuanian Republic for the Children’s Rights Protection Service 2004-2005 „On the condition of the playgrounds“ state that the majority of the reported playgrounds is situated next to the blocks of flats. The condition of them is defined as satisfactory or very poor, sometimes even threatening for the children’s health. As far as the equipment of the playgrounds goes the most popular mentioned in the reports are the following: swings, structures for climbing and sandboxes. It is important to mention that often the equipment on the playgrounds does not correspond to the requirements of hygiene, especially this can be said about the sandboxes. Other pieces of equipment are dated and only occasionally are fixed, painted or refilled with sand. In some municipalities there are no playgrounds left due to the fact that the constructions which had threatened for the children’s health were dismantled. The general tendency shows that the existing sport areas in the school yards and the remaining playgrounds do not meet the children’s need for playing which is foreseen by the United Nations Convention of the Right of the Child. The 1st part of the 31st article of this Convention states that children have the right „to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts“. (State Mental Health Centre http://www.vpsc.lt/Priklausomybes/vaik%20teis%20konvenc.doc.; time of connection: 2005 06 23). The second part of the 31st article of the above mentioned Convention obliges the state to „respect and promote the rights of the child to participate freely in cultural and artistic life“ and to „encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for culture, artistic, recreational and leisure activity“. (State Mental Health Centre http://www.vpsc.lt/Priklausomybes/vaik%20teis%20konvenc.doc.; time of connection: 2005 06 23). This article of the Convention might be understood as the state’s duty to ensure children’s „right to play“ (European Law Department’s report for Children’s Rights Protection Service). Vilnius city sstrategic plan (Vilnius city municipality http://www.vilnius.lt/new/vadovybe.php?open=294&root=2&sub_cat1=642; time of connection: 2005 06 23) presents such programmes as „The Education of a young persona“ („Jauno žmogaus ugdymo“) and „The Socialization of the child and youth education“ („Vaikų ir jaunimo ugdymo socializacijos“) but neither of them foresees the budget for the accommodation of the community areas for the playgrounds. The question arises how the community areas will be used? How can we use them effectively? What possibilities can be created for the accommodation of community areas for the playgrounds, which are foreseen by the United Nations Convention of the Right of the Child.