Abstract
This study looks into actions related to the construction of playgrounds, praças de jogos and jardins de recreio in the 1920s and 1930s, in educational experiences conducted in the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul, facilitated by subjects linked to the Young Men’s Christian Association. The analysis of the documents indicates that seeing those spaces as extensions of the school environment, understanding that they were privileged moments to expand children’s instincts and understanding that the activities developed there could incorporate codes for student´s social life and concern with good use of free time were part of the arguments to legitimate the construction of those educational spaces.
Keywords:
History; Sports and recreational facilities; Young Men’s Christian Association; Leisure activities