Original scientific paper
FREE TIME OF CHILDREN ON THE ISLAND OF HVAR AND THEIR AGE
Arbunić Antun
; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Splitu
Abstract
Children represent a specific part of the population whose time is determined by the process of their development, and is characterised by constant social supervision - primarily carried out by parents. As children grow, social supervision is slowly loosened, and there is an increasing richness in the activities taken up by this part of the population. This very fact is a factor of twofold significance: free time can be a space for developing personality, but also a risk factor for the occurrence of socially unacceptable forms of behaviour. This understanding brings home the importance of social action in relation to the free time of children in the form of activities that children are free to choose from in line with their interests and developmental needs. In order for such social action to be successful, it is necessary to know all the determinants related to the free time of children.
By researching the free time of the children from the island of Hvar through the use of quantitative methods of research at the descriptive and inferential level, data were obtained on the general state of the aspect of time of children (structure and quantity), on their habits in free time, and on differences in the use of free time, given the type of day (working day / non-working day) and the age of pupils in the higher forms of primary schools. The results, albeit limited by the specificity of the sample, show that the structure and quantity of activities carried out in the overall time and in the free time of
children are determined by the type of day and the age of the children. These very factors, apart from other determinants which affect the choice of activities in free time (gender, territory…), need to be taken into account in well-planned social action which would
structure the supply of activities for primary school children.
Keywords
free time; children; type of day; age; free time activities
Hrčak ID:
26178
URI
Publication date:
15.6.2006.
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