Visual methods and geographies of children: drawing their daily environment

Abstract

This paper explores the use of drawings, one of the most used qualitative techniques in the context of the geographies of childhood. It outlines an overview of the oral, written and visual methods commonly used in research with children and young people. Moreover it points out some of the major ethical issues faced by this type of research and gives proposals to address them. Based on exemples from a research by the authors on the role of playgrounds in the daily lives of children in different cities, the paper explains drawings as one of the elements of field work, how they areimplemented and how the results have been analyzed. Despite limitations, this methodological experience is highly valued and could be combined with other techniques in research on children’s geographies.