Depending on the social, economic and territorial context, the experience of the city, school and family can vary. This is also true for how much a child interacts with public green spaces. There are a variety of childhoods and, therefore, a variety of ways to experience encounters with others and with nature.
Due to a lack of safety in various socioeconomic contexts, families prioritize keeping children confined to private and indoor spaces. Although this attitude represents a form of caring, the fact is that it keeps children away from public areas and open spaces. Therefore, they have few opportunities to play independently without guidance and gradually develop an autonomous experience of the city, characterized by mobility and freedom of movement.
São Paulo has only 2.6m2 of green space per person. The international recommended standard is 12m2. The overall average is already considered low by some experts, but certain neighborhoods in the city’s center and its outskirts are even more gray. Despite having the largest forested area in the city, the neighborhood of Parelheiros, for example, has only 0.29m2 of gardens and parks per inhabitant (Agência Estado, 2012).