In this third part of her evocative essay about the Camden Square adventure playground where she played as a child,...Look back in play – part 3
Scotland’s children’s commissioner and leading children’s charities this week joined a rally at Westminster to demand that the UK government...Scotland commissioner urges government to protect children’s rights in Brexit talks
Playing Out, a grassroots project to enable children to play in the residential streets where they live, has become one...How residents are opening up the city for children to play
Look back in play – part 2
Landscape architect Maisie Rowe continues her journey into the memories of a rich childhood spent on an adventure playground in inner London’s Camden Square, vividly revived by the discovered photographs of her playworker, Abdul Chowdry. In...Read more
Let’s enrich public space – especially in poor neighbourhoods
Redesigning public space can transform the feel of a neighbourhood, but sometimes the expense, though modest, can inhibit the aspiration of the residents who need it most. Nadine Roos reflects on what may be the true cost...Read more
Rise in road accidents involving children in the Netherlands
Road traffic accidents involving children in the Netherlands is on the increase, according to a recent official analysis of police records. A report from the police, the Confederation of Insurers and the traffic intelligence agency, VIA...Read more
Look back in play – part 1
Uncovering a stash of unseen photographs took landscape architect Maisie Rowe back to her childhood – and forward to a meditation on the importance of spaces for play. Over four parts, she tells the story...Read more
How to talk to parents about ‘risky play’
The term ‘risky play’ has become a banner for the movement to allow children more freedom to play within environments that meet their need to be adventurous, challenge themselves and learn how to navigate the world rather...Read more
Policymakers must act on children and lead
It is widely assumed that children’s exposure to the toxic effects of lead in their environment is a thing of the past, at least in the developed world. In fact, as a new US report...Read more
Six features of family-friendly planning
In this second part of her synopsis of one of the key themes of the recent Child in the City seminar in Rotterdam, Lia Karsten identifies that the key features of successful urban planning for...Read more
UK children’s advocates propose amendments to Brexit bill
An alliance of UK children’s charities, including the Children’s Society, Children England, the NSPCC and Barnardo’s, have proposed key changes to the act of Parliament that will take the country out of the European Union....Read more
Children’s services struggle to tackle radicalisation, says new study
New research in the UK has found that many children’s services lack the ability to effectively prevent or respond to the radicalisation of young people by extremists. Adrian Voce reports. A study on Safeguarding and Radicalisation commissioned by...Read more
Cities for children are communities for all
In these reflections on themes of the Child in the City international seminar on urban planning, held in Rotterdam in June, Lia Karsten says that urban planners and designers must respond to the needs of...Read more
Facebook boss advocates outdoor play – for his own children
Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and chief executive of the social media giant, Facebook, has published an impassioned letter to his new-born daughter, in which he extols the virtue of playing outside in nature. Adrian Voce reports. The...Read more