Playgrounds in Novi Sad (Serbia) and their influences on children's health and development

Playgrounds are spaces in urban environments where children spend most of their free time. Continuous and various games in the open, with numerous physical and emotional reactions, have great significance for their health. The importance of playgrounds is based on possibilities for children to realize different needs for their proper psychophysical development. The aim of this research was to explore what kinds of playgrounds are adequate for children according to their development levels. Focusing on playgrounds in the urban area of Novi Sad (Serbia), the paper analyzes different playgrounds and sport fields. The analyzed examples are differently positioned, shaped and various in used elements, as well as in the overall quality of surroundings. Play opportunities and problems within playgrounds were identified and documented in order to determine possible strategies and recommendations to improve their quality and provide children with healthy and secure environments. Upon analyzing playgrounds in Novi Sad, conclusions were made that the unified need of children for play does exist in diversified places and that all spaces have certain influence on children's development and health. There is an obvious lack of adequate playgrounds, which would fully satisfy modern children's needs.