December 2025 Blog: Why Children Need Third Places (What’s That?)

What is a third place?

A third place is a social place you can go to outside of home and work. Imagine that your first place is home. Your second place is work or school. Your third place is some other place where you can hang out and talk to other people. This term comes from sociologist Ray Oldenburg. He wanted to learn about how people could connect to their communities.

Why are third spaces good for children?

Third spaces can help children to develop social and emotional skills. A research team compared two groups of children. One group of children participated in third spaces, and the other group of children did not.

The group of children in third spaces had these benefits.

  • Better cooperation
  • Better self-control
  • Less hyperactive behavior
  • Better peer relations
  • Better conduct in school
  • Greater emotional adjustment to change

A different research team discovered a connection between third spaces and behavior. They found out that the rules in third spaces helped kids learn positive social behaviors. Norms in third spaces can help kids learn how to regulate their own behaviors. For example, a kid may learn to self-regulate at a library. The social norm there is to be quiet out of respect for others.

 

When should children have a third space?

Children are never too young or old to have a third space! Another research team looked at what happens to older children who have a third space. They found that high school students with a third space were less likely to drop out of school. These high school students were also more likely to attend college. Third spaces can help younger children grow into active, young adults. These third spaces become a way for children to practice skills in the real-world.

 

Where are third places for children?

Some of these third places are designed for children, while others are open to all ages.

  • Museums, like Kohl Children’s Museum!
  • Public libraries
  • Parks and playgrounds
  • Places of worship
  • Cafés and coffee shops
  • Community centers
  • School clubs

How to find a third space for children?

There are three important things to look for when finding a third space for children

  1. Safety: You must consider this place to be safe. That includes trusting the people there.
  2. Location: You should be able to get to this place fairly easily. Children need help getting to places. See if there is a third place near your home (first place) or work (second place).
  3. Environment: You should choose a third space that supports your child. Think about their interests and ways they can grow.

Are children’s museums third places?

Children’s museums are third places with high standards. They are made with safety, location, and environment in mind. At Kohl Children’s Museum, members can get the most use out of the Museum as a third place for children. Third places are ideally free of cost. To help with cost as a potential barrier, Kohl Children’s Museum is a part of the Museums for All Program. SNAP/WIC cardholders pay $5/person up to 6 admissions. Some programs at the Museum allow for free admission or field trips, like Everyone at Play, School Connections scholarship, Early Childhood Connections professional development, Play Attention, and Family Connections. Kohl Children’s Museum strives to be a third place for all guests.

See you at the Museum!

Zoe A. Tyler, Education Specialist II

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Sources

Beal, J. (2024, September 24). What are third places and why do they matter?. Shanker Institute. https://www.shankerinstitute.org/blog/what-are-third-places-and-why-do-they-matter

de Oliveira Major, S., Cristina Palos, A., & Silva, O. (2023). Attending (or not) after-school programs during the COVID-19 pandemic: What happens to children’s social skills and behavior problems? Children and Youth Services Review, 149, 106929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106929

Havnes, T., & Mogstad, M. (2011). No child left behind: Subsidized child care and children’s long-run outcomes. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, Vol. 3 (No. 2), 97–129. https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.3.2.97

Littman, D. M. (2021). Third Places, social capital, and sense of community as mechanisms of adaptive responding for young people who experience social marginalization. American Journal of Community Psychology, 69(3–4), 436–450. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12531

Sliger, G. (2024, March 15). What are “third places” (and why do our kids need one)? The Kid Creator. https://thekidcreator.com/what-are-third-places-and-why-do-our-kids-need-one/