Children in polluted cities ‘more likely to suffer from obesity’
Children living in air pollution-plagued cities with high population density, ‘unwalkable’ infrastructure and who have parents who smoke are more likely to become obese, say US researchers. (more…)Read more
Australia and UK partner to build better cities
Australia and the UK have brought together the very best minds in urban planning to offer a vision of healthier and sustainable cities for the future. (more…)Read more
I redesigned a school playground for my PhD – and the children got better marks learning outside
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the education of at least 1.5 billion school students. That’s more than 90 per cent of the world’s children. Although many schools in the west, along with private schools in...Read more
Bernard van Leer Foundation report highlights Urban 95 successes
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Six ways to make city streets safer for pedestrians – and children
For many city leaders, more cars and more highways mean better transportation. And during the current pandemic, fear of the spread of COVID-19 is pushing some to turn to private vehicles. (more…)Read more
City designers looking to unlock kids’ creative visions
Architects are unlocking the creativity of children to help redesign and give colour to visions of cities beyond the coronavirus measures. Whether it’s amazing skyscrapers or sprawling green spaces, children are creating their own cities while...Read more
Showcasing global examples of child-friendly urban design
An architect specialising in the design of child-friendly cities is keen to share some of the best examples of urban living the world has to offer. (more…)Read more
From my window: a view of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mumbai
Inequality is shaping how people are experiencing COVID-19 in cities to a startling degree. The vulnerability of the urban poor is striking everywhere, but the divide is more visible in some places than others. (more…)Read more
Five key ‘takeaways’ from Urban95 Festival
Urban communities must themselves demand baby and toddler-friendly cities to help make them a reality, says the Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF). That’s just one of five key ‘takeaways’ from the foundation’s recent Urban95 Festival, which...Read more
Experience Tel Aviv ‘through a child’s eyes’
Tel Aviv is the latest city to be shown ‘through the eyes of a child’ thanks to the Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF). The foundation’s Urban95 project has showcased several Young Explorers films made by New...Read more
Play access in cities is critical to children’s development – report
Society has ‘an obligation to reclaim play in cities’ because of the ‘critical role’ it plays in child development and learning, says a global play rights alliance. The Real Play Coalition says the evidence is overwhelming...Read more
Help make Edinburgh a ‘smart city’, youngsters told
Schoolchildren in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, are being encouraged to show their creativity and help the city embrace a ‘smart’ future. Local businesses and organisations have teamed up for a project designed to increase the number...Read more
Empathy tools for urban leaders and designers
Urban planners are being encouraged to utilise a set of ’empathy tools’ aimed at helping them design child-friendly environments. It’s one of the latest initiatives developed by the Urban95 arm of the Bernard van Leer Foundation...Read more
Living with Beauty: reconnecting city children with nature
The introduction of orchards in cities and urban areas can ‘reconnect children with nature’, a UK government review has said. Two million trees could be planted on the streets of the nation’s towns and cities, under...Read more