Encouraging outdoor play in Uberaba

In low-income suburban neighbourhoods of Uberaba, there are public squares every 400 metres – but children and their families have got out of the habit of using them. Fearful of getting dirty, bruised or bitten by insects, families increasingly prefer that their children play at home.

Inspired by the poet Manoel de Barros’s line Meu quintal / É maior do que o mundo (“my backyard is bigger than the world”), the project will revitalise three squares through activities aimed at overcoming fears related to outdoor play, such as tree climbing, mud pools, planting edible gardens and holding food fairs with the produce, and exploring biodiversity with magnifying glasses.

Update, April 2018: A tree house has been constructed as a base for activities, and is also open for school visits. Young Explorers sessions and training sessions for municipal educators are underway. You can read more and stay updated at the project’s blog.