A Conceptual Analysis of Children’s Mental Imagery and Its role in Forming A Sense of Belonging to Urban Spaces: A Child-Centered Design Framework: A case study of Azadi Park, Shiraz

ABSTRACT
Urban spaces serve as platforms for interactions among individuals and with the environment. These interactions are enhanced by a sense of belonging; a feeling that encourages individuals to identify the environment as part of themselves, leading to more active presence and greater responsibility. The objective of this research is to propose strategies for enhancing the sense of belonging among children aged 4 to 5 years in Azadi Park, Shiraz, addressing the gaps arising from the neglect of this age group in urban design. The study is quasi-experimental and employs a descriptive-analytical method with a mixed (qualitative-quantitative) approach. The statistical population consisted of 50 indigenous children familiar with the park, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using pictorial questionnaires, drawing analysis, semi-structured interviews, field observations, psychological analysis with the assistance of a child psychologist, and post-redesign evaluation questionnaires. Qualitative analysis revealed that children's mental images of an ideal park prioritise "play and physical activity," "nature and green spaces," and "social interaction," with emphasis on sensory elements, soft paving, and colorful play equipment. Post-redesign evaluation analysis adopting non-parametric tests indicated correlations among the variables following redesign. The results demonstrate that redesign efforts should focus on diversity in activities and play equipment, enhancement of sensory experiences, improvement of safety and security, and responsiveness to children's needs.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Urban public spaces are fundamental in shaping human experiences, social relationships, and perceptions of the environment. Beyond their functional roles, these spaces serve as settings for memory formation, identity development, and the emergence of meaningful relationships between people and places. Consequently, the quality of urban environments significantly affects citizens’ well-being, satisfaction, and emotional connection to place. The concept of place attachment elucidates these human-environment relationships and has received considerable attention in environmental psychology, urban design, and planning studies. Place attachment encompasses the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral bonds individuals establish with specific environments, which develop through repeated experiences, personal meanings, and social interactions.
The development of place attachment is particularly significant during childhood. Early spatial experiences shape cognitive development, environmental awareness, social skills, and future attitudes toward public spaces. Children engage with their surroundings differently from adults. While adults often interpret urban environments based on functional organization, accessibility, and practical considerations, children primarily perceive places through sensory experiences, opportunities for play, visual stimulation, exploration, and social interaction. Therefore, the environmental characteristics that foster place attachment in children may differ substantially from those valued by adults.
Despite increasing recognition of children’s rights within urban planning discourse, many contemporary public spaces continue to be designed according to adult-centered priorities. Urban parks, plazas, and recreational areas often emphasize efficiency, aesthetic standards, and adult recreational needs, frequently overlooking children’s experiential and developmental requirements. Consequently, children are often regarded as passive users rather than active participants in the planning and design process. This exclusion restricts opportunities for meaningful interaction with public environments and may weaken children’s sense of belonging and attachment to place.
This issue is especially relevant for preschool children aged four to five years. According to developmental psychology, children in this age group are in the preoperational stage of cognitive development. During this stage, imagination, symbolic play, sensory exploration, imitation, and direct interaction with the physical environment are essential for learning and development. Their understanding of urban environments is shaped by tangible objects, visual qualities, memorable experiences, and opportunities for active engagement. Environments that facilitate exploration, creativity, movement, and social interaction are more likely to foster positive emotional experiences and stronger place attachment.
Previous studies on children’s perceptions of urban environments have concentrated mainly on school-aged children aged seven to twelve. Compared with preschool children, relatively little attention has been paid to them. Young children’s environmental preferences and spatial perceptions may differ significantly due to their developmental characteristics. As a result, the literature has a limited understanding of how younger children perceive urban public spaces. Moreover, there is limited understanding of the environmental attributes most effectively contribute to their sense of place attachment.
This study addresses the research gap by examining the mental images of children aged four to five years regarding Azadi Park in Shiraz, Iran. By integrating concepts of place attachment and mental imagery, the study aims to create a practical framework to inform child-centered urban design interventions. The research analyzes children’s perceptions, preferences, and environmental experiences. It seeks to identify the factors that help form place attachment. These findings will be translated into design strategies that respond better to children’s developmental and emotional needs.
This study is structured around three principal objectives.
The first objective is to identify the key components and indicators that shape place attachment among preschool children in urban public spaces.
Second, it aims to evaluate the existing condition of Azadi Park from the perspective of children’s mental images and environmental perceptions.
Third, it seeks to develop and assess a child-centered redesign proposal that strengthens children’s attachment to the park and improves the overall quality of their spatial experience.
In pursuing these objectives, the research attempts to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical urban design interventions. More specifically, it explores how children’s perceptions and mental representations of place can be translated into tangible design strategies that enhance emotional connections with urban environments.
 
Methodology
A mixed-methods, semi-experimental research design was employed, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. This methodology was selected due to the multidimensional nature of place attachment, which includes emotional, cognitive, social, behavioral, and physical dimensions. Relying on a single methodological approach would not adequately capture the complexity of children’s environmental experiences.
The research was conducted in Azadi Park, a prominent urban park in Shiraz. In the pre-redesign stage, the study population comprised children aged four to five years residing in Shiraz. Purposive sampling was used to select fifty children familiar with the park for participation.
Several complementary data collection techniques were utilized. Visual questionnaires were designed to facilitate communication with young children whose verbal abilities are still developing, enabling participants to express preferences through images rather than complex verbal explanations. Children’s drawings served as an additional tool to reveal mental representations of both existing and ideal park environments. Drawing-based methods are widely recognized as effective for exploring children’s environmental perceptions, as they allow for symbolic and non-verbal forms of expression.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the children and interpreted with the assistance of a child psychologist. These interviews yielded deeper insights into children’s emotions, preferences, concerns, and expectations regarding urban spaces. Field observations were also conducted to document the physical conditions of Azadi Park and to identify environmental characteristics influencing children’s experiences.
According to the analysis of qualitative findings, a redesign proposal was developed to reflect the children’s preferences and needs. The redesign incorporated principles derived from children’s mental images and addressed deficiencies identified during the evaluation of existing conditions.
A post-intervention evaluation was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the redesign. Data from municipal authorities regarding the number of child visitors to Azadi Park informed the calculation of an appropriate sample size using Cochran’s formula. Sixty-three children participated in the evaluation phase, including both those involved in the redesign process and those who used the park without prior participation.
A post-redesign questionnaire was administered to evaluate children’s satisfaction with the redesigned environment and to determine the extent to which the intervention enhanced place attachment.
 
Results and discussion
Analysis of children’s drawings and interviews identified several recurring themes that collectively influenced their mental representation of an ideal urban park.
Play and physical activity emerged as the most dominant theme. Children’s representations consistently highlighted playground equipment, opportunities for movement, colorful play structures, climbing facilities, and spaces for active exploration. These findings indicate that play serves not only as a form of recreation but also as a central mechanism through which children experience, comprehend, and develop emotional connections with places.
Nature and green space constituted the second major theme. Trees, flowers, grass, birds, and water features appeared frequently in children’s drawings and narratives. Natural elements functioned not only as decorative features but also as active components of a desirable environment. Their presence contributed to sensory stimulation, opportunities for exploration, comfort, and enjoyment.
Social interaction represented the third dominant theme. Children consistently emphasized the importance of spending time with friends, siblings, and parents. Shared experiences and opportunities for collective play were identified as essential characteristics of attractive environments. These findings suggest that place attachment among young children is closely associated with opportunities for meaningful social engagement.
The analysis also revealed several deficiencies in the current condition of Azadi Park. Children frequently reported insufficient play equipment, deteriorated facilities, inadequate maintenance, poor cleanliness, and substandard lighting. Many participants expressed a preference for more colorful, imaginative, and interactive environments. The lack of fantasy elements, opportunities for discovery, and child-friendly landmarks diminished the park’s appeal to young users.
Field observations corroborated these perceptions and identified a significant discrepancy between children’s preferences and the physical characteristics of the existing environment. Inadequate safety measures, worn-out play equipment, limited sensory engagement, and restricted opportunities for exploration diminished the park’s capacity to support positive childhood experiences.
Psychological interpretation of the drawings provided additional insights into children’s environmental priorities. Play elements were frequently depicted at larger scales and in central positions, indicating their symbolic significance. Bright colors, imaginative forms, and expansive open spaces reflected children’s preference for environments associated with freedom, creativity, and enjoyment.
Interview findings further demonstrated that emotional security plays a crucial role in shaping children’s spatial experiences. Children expressed a strong preference for places where parents could remain nearby while still allowing opportunities for independent exploration and play. The presence of family members and trusted companions contributed significantly to feelings of comfort and belonging.
Based on these findings, the redesign proposal prioritized enhancing safety, sensory richness, environmental legibility, social interaction, and play opportunities. Specific interventions included the installation of age-appropriate multifunctional play equipment, soft-surface materials, improved lighting systems, enhanced maintenance facilities, expanded green infrastructure, upgraded water features, and the incorporation of visually stimulating and imaginative design elements.
The redesign specifically addressed the elimination of underutilized and unsafe areas, transforming them into active spaces that support diverse forms of play and interaction. Additionally, the redesign aimed to enhance children’s ability to navigate and comprehend the environment through clearer spatial organization and the inclusion of child-friendly landmarks.
Post-redesign evaluation indicated substantial improvements in children’s satisfaction and environmental perceptions. Participants reported heightened enjoyment, an increased willingness to spend time in the park, stronger feelings of comfort and security, and more positive social experiences. The redesigned environment more closely aligned with children’s ideal mental representations and reinforced emotional bonds with the place.
These findings support the conclusion that child-centered design interventions can significantly enhance place attachment by directly addressing children’s developmental, psychological, and experiential needs.
 
Conclusion
The findings indicate that place attachment among preschool children stems from a combination of environmental, social, emotional, and sensory factors. Opportunities for play, interaction with nature, social engagement, visual appeal, emotional security, cleanliness, and safety are identified as the most influential dimensions shaping children’s perceptions of urban public spaces.
The research further demonstrates that children’s mental images provide valuable insights for urban planning and design. Understanding how children perceive and experience places enables designers to create environments that more effectively support developmental needs and foster stronger emotional connections with urban spaces.
The redesign of Azadi Park exemplifies the translation of children’s preferences into practical design strategies that enhance environmental quality and reinforce place attachment. Positive outcomes observed in the post-redesign evaluation indicate that child-centered approaches contribute to greater user satisfaction as well as to more inclusive and sustainable urban environments.
The study contributes to the literature by integrating the concepts of mental image and place attachment within a single analytical framework focused on preschool children. It
also provides practical guidance for urban designers, planners, and municipal authorities seeking to create public spaces that support children’s well-being and encourage meaningful engagement with the urban environment.
The proposed framework may serve as a model for future redesign projects in similar urban contexts, promoting cities that are more responsive to children’s needs and better able to foster lasting relationships between young citizens and the places they inhabit.
 
Funding
There is no financial support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Atefeh Rahimi: Compilation and review of sources, conducting theoretical and field studies, data collection and processing, initial analysis of findings, extracting the initial structure of the article from the master's thesis, and preparing the first draft of the article.
Sahand Lotfi: Conceptualization and research design, scientific supervision of the thesis and article, oversight of methodology and analysis process, revision and completion of scientific content, integration and organization of the article text, final editing, preparation of the final version, and responsibility for correspondence and submission of the article.
Mahsa Sholeh: Participation in developing the theoretical foundations and analytical framework of the research, scientific consultation in interpreting the findings, critical review of article versions, and effective contribution to revising and finalizing the scientific text.
Maryam Roosta: Participation in shaping and advancing research discussions, providing specialized consultation during the study process, participation in evaluating the results, and scientific review of the article..
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.