Analysing children’s spatial abilities

Abstract

This dissertation aims to discover whether transport methods, type of play and independence levels influence children’s spatial skills. In the past, children had more opportunity to play outside and villages were safer to walk through. Nowadays urbanisation rates are high, and villages are considered less safe for free-range outdoor activities. This situation is relevant within the context of the Maltese Islands, which has seen an unprecedented increase of urban sprawl over the last century. Literature has focused on specialized spatial tasks such as route memorising, but few have focused on how children depict places of their choice. In addition, not much literature exists on the local scenario. To bridge these gaps, this study used a multi-method approach in which children were interviewed and asked to create a mental map of their choice, whilst their parents were given questionnaires to provide further background information of each participant. Drawings were analysed by content analysis. This dissertation found out that active methods of transport and increased contact with the outside environment through outdoor play and more independence were directly linked with superior spatial skills. Transport methods are not linked with age, however, outside play and levels of independence do increase with an increase in age. Gender wise, boys are allowed more outside play and screen time which add advantage to their spatial skills. Since better spatial skills are related with better performance in scientific subjects, these skills should be emphasized in the schooling system by providing adequate conditions, such as safer urban areas, for these skills to be practised.