Abstract
The aim of this article is to focus on how children perceive their time spent in organised out-of-school activities in Finland and establish whether these activities provide an arena for children’s leisure. The article is based on two empirical studies, one on after-school activities and another on school sports clubs at the elementary school level. The most meaningful features for children were found to be time to play freely with friends and taking part in designing activities. Out-of-school activities are supervised and controlled because of various societal and educational requirements. The tension between children’s views and institutional requirements is discussed.
Highlights
Children’s experience is often overlooked when organising their leisure
The aim of this article is to focus on how children perceive their time spent in organised out-of-school activities in Finland and establish whether these activities provide an arena for children’s leisure
The article focuses on two empirical studies of younger children exploring children’s worlds by focusing first on after-school activities (Eskelinen) and on targeted school sports clubs (Lehto), collectively referred to here as organised out-ofschool activities
Summary
Children’s experience is often overlooked when organising their leisure. legislation, different recommendations and institutional practices fundamentally affect children’s experience of childhood by way of building and regulating their lives from the adult point of view (Andresen et al, 2011; see Frønes, 2009). The line between leisure and education has become blurred (Mayall, 2002), and freedom of movement and free play are turning into luxury (Dahlberg, 2009; Strandell, 2012, 2013; Thomson and Philo, 2004). All this might cause the tension between what children want and the institutional and societal requirements. We ask how children perceive their time spent in out-ofschool activities and how the activities on school premises perform as an arena of children’s leisure
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
