Vulnerable children's leisure time

This literature study is a review of international research on socially vulnerable children's leisure activities. Vulnerable children include both children in care and socially deprived children, poor children, children from poor socioeconomic backgrounds and children from ethnic minorities. Research in this area is limited. There is a lack of both qualitative research dealing directly and in-depth with vulnerable children's leisure, and quantitative research that examines the links between vulnerable children's leisure activities and their short-term and long-term well-being.
The systematic review shows that vulnerable children are less active in organised leisure activities than children in general. Their participation is limited by finances, gender roles and ethnicity. Leisure activities can actually give vulnerable children the opportunity to meet others on an equal footing and be judged on their performance rather than their background. Leisure activities can also provide access to meeting role models and gaining a network of adults from whom the children can get help.