Navigating challenges in allowing children’s outdoor activities in high-rise and high-density urban communities: a qualitative exploration of parental tactics

Abstract The transition to high-rise, high-density urban communities in China presents distinct challenges for parents in facilitating children’s outdoor activities. This study examines the built environmental and social factors shaping parental decision-making and coping strategies in these urban settings. Drawing on in-depth interviews with eleven parents in Nanning, the findings reveal that while safety concerns, limited public space, and overcrowding pose obstacles, parents often adapt through flexible tactics such as scheduling adjustments, careful supervision, and social support networks. However, the primary challenges arise from social pressures, including social isolation, academic competition, community expectations, and gendered parenting roles. These social constraints influence parental decision-making, often surpassing concerns related to the built environment. To navigate these challenges, parents leverage support networks and adopt structured strategies to ensure their children’s outdoor engagement. This study highlights the intertwined influence of physical and social environments on parenting, emphasizing the need to recognize how urban spatial constraints interact with broader societal pressures. The findings contribute to understanding urban family life in high-density Chinese cities, shedding light on how parents negotiate structural limitations to facilitate children’s outdoor activities.