ABSTRACT
Play does not occur "in a vacuum", rather it happens within a context. Children play with something and/or someone, in a certain place and at a certain time. Play arises through the interaction of factors within the individual with those resident in the environment. All possible places to play can be described as either indoor or outdoors. Rural children and those in low child density areas may have some distance to travel to play with friends. Outdoor play patterns can be severely constrained both by the more difficult travelling and also by the lack of flat play spaces. The low usage of grassed areas for play was felt to be a reflection of management policy rather than of low popularity with the children. It is very difficult to assess the play "value" of play equipment. Unfortunately, children's use of the equipment did not reflect the range of play forms associated with individual items as predicted.
