1. Understanding Child Time UseAn Introduction to a Measurement Tool

2. Why Measure How Children/Youth Spend Their Time? • Program placement • Are those children/youth you are trying to reach in school? • Are they working? • What other activities are they engaged in? • What activities are important to them? What do they want to do? • What is their living environment (home, street)? • Access and Safety • What routes do they take between these places? • How long does travel take? • By what mode? • Is it safe for them? Safe for you?

3. Introduction to a Participatory Rapid Appraisal Tool • Key Elements • Informed consent: parents/caregivers and youth • Selecting places where they spend time • Mapping their community • Linking the places: routes, transport modes, time • Allocating time spent per location • Expressing what activity is most important to them

4. PRA Tool Sampling and Setup • Understand your target population • Modify tool appropriately • Mixed-gender or single-gender groups? • Supplies – depend on age and final PRA protocol • Poster board or large paper • Photos, drawings of places or blanks for group identification • Markers, pens • Tokens to represent time (e.g., one token=one hour) • Capable, friendly facilitator

5. Map

6. Sample Results Table

7. Tallied Results

8. Drawing of “most important activity”

9. Power of Mixed Methods • Time tables • Maps • Drawings • These tools enable us to see the complex system in which young people live. This in turn enables us to design appropriate, targeted interventions to meet their needs.