Growing up in a cage: challenges of outdoor play for urban children in a northern Bangladesh city

ABSTRACT The study investigated the challenges of outdoor play for urban children living in apartments in some densely populated urban areas in the Rajshahi City Corporation in Northern Bangladesh. Using a mixedmethods approach, 132 households were selected through simple random sampling, and both parents and their children aged 5–13 years were interviewed. Children were found to be compelled to stay indoors for a reasonable amount of time due to the lack of adequate playgrounds and open spaces next to their apartments. Most parents expressed reluctance to allow their children to play outdoors because of lack of safety and security concerns. The study also found gender discrimination or inequity with girls not getting the same opportunities to play outdoors as boys. Changing family structures and parental attitudes, rapid urbanisation, addiction to technological devices, and lack of proper playgrounds in schools worsened this scenario progressively.