Moves and Minutes: Exploring Children’s Playtime and Movement Dynamics in Budapest Playgrounds with a View Towards Sustainability

This research investigates the play behaviour and activity patterns in terms of movement and the amount of time spent on various play equipment across five diverse playgrounds in Budapest in different contexts: Citypark Playground, Normafa Playground, Péter Zöld Playground, Benczúr Playground, and Gellérthegy Slide Playground. Employing observational methods, we recorded data on movement/activity types, time allocation, and equipment usage among different play equipment to evaluate how children interact with these various play structures and the average time spent on each. Across these playgrounds, we conducted an analysis of over 400 individual interactions and behaviours among children aged between 1 and 14 years old. Activities were categorised into primary movements, including climbing, sliding, swinging, and balancing, and secondary movements, encompassing actions such as jumping, sitting, bending, hanging, crawling, and others. On average, children spent between 5 and 10 min on popular equipment like ziplines and carousels, while static structures, such as wooden piles and bridge climbers, showed consistent but less dynamic usage. Key findings revealed that complex play designs and dynamic structures attracted the highest levels of engagement, encouraging a broader range of movement types. For example, ziplines and complex equipment accounted for 27% of total observed activity, emphasising their role in promoting physical activity and excitement. Time spent on different equipment types varied significantly across these playgrounds, influenced by design complexity, spatial density, and environmental factors. These insights emphasise the importance of well-considered playground design in fostering physical activity, creativity, and social interaction among children. The study’s implications extend to urban planners, architects, designers, and decision-makers, offering recommendations for creating more inclusive, engaging, and developmentally appropriate play spaces that foster a diverse range of abilities and preferences.