Children play everywhere. Yet their right to play – protected by a UN convention – is constantly challenged by adults, writes Michael Martin, Lecturer in Urban Design and Planning, University of Sheffield.
Play is crucial to support children’s holistic development in cognitive, emotional, physical and social skills. Likewise, we know children’s environments significantly influence their health and wellbeing, for better or worse.
But across cities, young people are let down by a built environment that fails to appropriately consider their needs.
Places where children commonly used to play, such as streets and local neighbourhoods, have been transformed into car-only spaces where traffic and parking take priority. Likewise, city spaces frequently “design out” children by prohibiting skateboarding, ball games and other kinds of play.
Over time, urban planning has confined children’s opportunities for play to dedicated playground spaces only.
Read the full article from The Conversation.
Should the civic movement be championing childrens’ play?