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‘I drew myself playing football with the clouds and the sun’: qualitative research methods to explore children’s leisure experiences in disadvantaged contexts of less economically developed countries

ABSTRACT In leisure studies, qualitative research investigating leisure experiences in underprivileged contexts has focused mainly on adults of economically developed countries. Accordingly, this article aims to determine the suitability of qualitative methods used in previous investigations, such as interviews and photo-elicitation, in addition to drawings and the creation of mock-ups, to investigate how children in deprived contexts but less economically developed countries experience leisure. Therefore, we used these methods in a case study with children living in the informal settlements of Soacha (Colombia). Based on this case study, we conclude that qualitative research methods enabled us to determine the nature of children’s leisure, their leisure constraints, as well as their meanings associated with free time and leisure. Besides, these methods enabled us to reach leisure places challenging to visit, identify collective children’s leisure constraints and their expectations about leisure facilities in their neighbourhood. Finally, based on children’s points of view gathered by these methods on their daily leisure experience, we propose some lines of action that help improve children’s leisure in informal settlements and support their right to influence leisure programmes provided for them.