From open fields to inside worlds: three generations of childhood in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

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ABSTRACT This paper explores how childhood experiences in urban Indonesia have changed across three generations, aiming to understand how these different cohorts have navigated and adapted to their environments amidst continuous urban and social transformations. Focusing on Yogyakarta – a city marked by a unique blend of tradition and modernity – we explore how changes in the urban fabric and socio-economic circumstances have affected children’s play, socialisation and mobility and their agency in navigating their urban environments. Drawing from in-depth interviews with 12 three-generation families, our findings reveal generational shifts in play patterns, from the communal and outdoor activities that grandparents enjoyed as children, to the increasingly supervised and indoor play of today’s children. Growing concerns over traffic congestion and changing social norms have restricted children’s mobility and access to outdoor play spaces, prompting calls from participants for urban spaces that support less structured and more socially enriching play opportunities. Despite such changes, the importance of religious practices and community engagement were found to be constants in shaping children’s daily lives across generations. This study thus deepens understanding of the roles of cultural and religious practices in shaping urban childhood experiences and contributes to the relatively sparse literature on children’s geographies in Asia.