The purpose of this master’s thesis was to make children aware of the importance of their surroundings for playing and spending quality free time. The research started from the assumption that the playgrounds in their city districts are inadequate and that they do not sufficiently encourage the development of creativity and social skills. The goal of this research was to encourage children to think about the ways in which they could change playgrounds so that they function better as an entirety and social center of the city district. The research was conducted as a quasi-experimental form of action research, and it consisted of two parts. The first part was conducted in elementary school 1 (Maksimir) and consisted of the students' analysis of existing playgrounds and conceptual solutions for the new playgrounds. Conceptual solutions are presented in the form of playground models. The second part was carried out in primary school 2 (Sveti Duh) and included the conversion of a neglected part of the school yard into a playground for games and recreation. Conceptual solutions in this part were accomplished in the form of a playground. The results of the research answered the following research questions: 1. How will children of various age groups approach the problem of the playground as the center of social life in a city district? 2. How will children of various age groups approach the problem of unused spaces in the school yard as a place where they spend a significant part of the day? 3. How do children of different age groups consider the needs of different age and gender groups? 4. How do children think about the materials and technical possibilities of the playground? The research showed that the students were initially unaware of the importance of the playground as a socializing center, but through workshops and reflection, they began to see the benefits of such a form of socialization. The students also became aware of the importance of the school yard as a potential place for socializing outdoors, even during the periods of the day when they do not have classes. The students realized the importance of actively creating their own content as opposed to passively consuming the content they are surrounded by on a daily basis.