The ‘3D Cave’ – Involving teenagers in planning and design
Many child friendly city initiatives focus on the age group of 6 – 12, thereby disregarding the particular views on the urban environment of teenagers. In fact, they are often regarded as a tough audience...Read more
8 ways to create activities for children in a safe environment – part 2
The described methodology of organising activities for children in free, safe and inclusive environments was the outcome of the “Playground Without Borders” project. The project that took place in Tschierv, Switzerland (2014) aimed to gather organisations...Read more
Italian school children participate in designing of a new schoolyard “PortaColori”
The ‘Portacolori’ – a play space located in the primary school in the Monte Rosello neighbourhood of Sassari, Italy – is the outcome of a real and complex participatory design process. The project involved the...Read more
8 ways to create activities for children in a safe environment – part 1
Discovering how to best organise activities for children in free, safe and inclusive environments was the outcome of the “Playground Without Borders” project. The project that took place in Tschierv, Switzerland (2014) aimed to gather...Read more
High levels of child poverty across the EU call for actions
Almost 27 million children in Europe are at risk of poverty or social exclusion and the current economic, financial and social crisis is putting them even more at risk, according to a report by Save the...Read more
Five Applications of Photovoice as a Method for Children’s Participation
Growing Up Boulder – a child-friendly city initiative in Boulder, Colorado, USA – has generated 5 variations of the photovoice method for use with different age groups and abilities. Youth organisations and researchers from universities...Read more
Denmark gets 10 permanent bicycle playgrounds
In Canada and the United States there is no comprehensive, consistent bike education programs, however a number of initiatives are underway to determine how to introduce a comprehensive system. However, European children benefit from a...Read more
Play It Fair! A Human Rights Education Toolkit for Children
Montreal-based international organisation Equitas has developed Play It Fair!, which is an easy to use education toolkit. The toolkit helps to increase an understanding of human rights, respect for diversity and peaceful conflict resolution in 6-12 year...Read more
Playgrounds need to be more challenging to benefit children
Children’s playgrounds are not challenging enough, says Susan Herrington, a professor in the school of landscape architecture at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Herrington conducted her research with colleague Dr. Mariana Brussoni, observing...Read more
Children seek greater access to nature
Although city children want more contact with nature, they do not always feel they have enough access to – or freedom within – the natural spaces that are already there. In a recent analysis of...Read more
Residents of Istanbul bring play back to the street
The residents of one of the most densely populated areas of Istanbul have secured a new ‘play street’ for their children: closed to traffic and where children can again run free. A recent study of...Read more
Storytelling project inspires urban planners in Italy
Urban planners in Italy have found that engaging children and young people with traditional storytelling and imaginative communication projects can help to engage them in the future shape of their cities, and in turn provide...Read more
Parents should be more aware of impacts of childrens’ autonomy
Often parents tend to promote autonomous behaviours through the promotion of tasks such as riding a bicycle unassisted and without trainer wheels, and even making decisions about what food to have at certain meal-times. However,...Read more
The importance of community support for children of addicts
90% of Swedish municipalities offer support services for children from addicted families. Eleven years in a row now, the Stockholm-based IOGT NTO Junior Association, Junis, has conducted this type of research on the amount and type...Read more