Updated guidelines for US children and youth
Earlier this month the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. There are new key guidelines for children ages three through five and updated...Read more
Universal Credit ‘failing’ UK children, says report
The UK’s much-heralded Universal Credit benefit for low income families is ‘failing’ disadvantaged children and young people, according to a leading charity. Action for Children, which campaigns to improve the lives of over 370,000 children, says...Read more
Air pollution increases crime in cities
The impact on children’s health from air pollution across the cities of the world can, we all know, be severe. Yet it goes further than that. Gary Haq of the University of York explains how...Read more
Children and play based learning
Children learn best when they’re having fun, and they are more likely to be having fun when they are playing. Children’s learning is optimal when they’re free to learn at their own pace and in their...Read more
Closing streets to cars so kids can play
Overweight children. Urban isolation. Neighbours who’ve never spoken to each other. These are the problems being tackled by a free grassroots project encouraging kids all over the England to play in the road. In the Street...Read more
Room for Ghent: planning the spatial future of an historic city
The host city for Child in the City 2016 has embraced the diverse challenges of planning its spatial future by drawing upon the ‘situational expertise’ of its most important stakeholders – the citizens themselves. including children and...Read more
London museum to showcase children’s play in new exhibition
The artist and photographer Mark Neville in collaboration with the Foundling Museum in central London is to stage a new exhibition of original photographs of children playing in different contexts. The exhibition will be accompanied by a...Read more
Toronto study explores high density family housing
In this second part of her short series, Cities for Children and Families, the Canadian urbanist, Jillian Glover looks at how innovative housing design concepts are making downtown living more family-friendly than ever before. There are many...Read more
Ghent conference says cities have vital role for refugee and migrant children
The conclusions of this year’s Child in the City conference, held in Ghent in November, have sent some strong messages to local policymakers and their municipalities about the need for greater commitments to holistic, long-term...Read more
Research: Making the case for investing in playwork provision
A recent study in Wales has concluded that every £1 invested in playwork returned £4.60 in immediate and deferred social benefits (The Means, 2016). Mike Barclay from Wrexham Play Development Team and Marianne Mannello from Play...Read more
Teens who grow up surrounded by nature are less likely to be aggressive
Whether it’s an urban park or a forested wilderness, being close to nature can benefit young people in unexpected ways. The power of nature has been studied on many occasions. It has been found to calm...Read more
Research finds the effects of homework on elementary school students, and the results are surprising
After over 25 years of studying and analyzing homework, Harris Coopers’ research demonstrates a clear conclusion: homework wrecks elementary school students. In his book, The Battle over Homework: Common Ground for Administrators, Teachers, and Parents, the...Read more
Changing a space: a new kind of playing out
I have a confession to make. I’ve been working for Playing Out as an area activator in Bristol for over a year now and, (deep breath)….. I haven’t closed my street for over six months...Read more
Changing the model for a child-friendly transport planning
Studies show that children who are not allowed to travel independently have 35% less physical agility, 40% less physical balance, 15% less creativity and 47% less autonomy and endurance during work and the number of...Read more