Beyond the playground: how cities are reimagining spaces for kids
This article is also available here in Spanish.

Beyond the playground: how cities are reimagining spaces for kids

My list

Author | Elvira Esparza

It is not just declining birth rates that explain the absence of children in urban spaces. Cities are not designed with children in mind, limiting their opportunities for free play. However, some cities are launching initiatives to address this issue and create more outdoor spaces for children.

Just a few years ago, children playing in the streets was a familiar sight. It was common in Madrid when I was a child. In my neighborhood, safety was never an issue, which meant we could play freely, without adults, and with ample space, away from cars. Now, however, children’s play spaces are restricted to enclosed parks, where they are always under the watchful eye of their parents.


Are the streets dangerous for children?

According to a report by Educo, children themselves view this as true. The findings leave little room for doubt: 1 in 3 children feel that the streets of their city or community are unsafe, although the dangers they face vary greatly between cities. The risks faced on the streets of more developed cities are vastly different from those in capitals of countries with high crime rates.

What are the most common dangers on city streets?

The dangers that most affect children can be divided into two types:

  • Violence: In cities with high crime rates, it is common for children to be unable to play alone on the streets due to the risk of becoming victims of crimes, ranging from theft to abduction.
  • Accidents: The heavy presence of cars on the streets has resulted in an increase in pedestrian accidents at crossings, traffic lights, and school exits, posing a significant risk to children. Cars have also contributed to the reduction of available space in cities for children to play and socialize.

Overprotection and loss of autonomy

Urban planning

In their desire to protect children from harm, parents have leaned toward overprotection. Parents escort their children to school, pick them up in the afternoons, take them to extracurricular activities, and even accompany them to the park. As a result, children have lost their ability to navigate the streets on their own, as they are always accompanied by their parents, often traveling by car. In fact, many neighborhoods lack sidewalks, making it difficult to walk along the streets.

Furthermore, outdoor play without adult supervision has been replaced by enclosed parks and play areas, where adults are always present. The result of overprotection is that children lack the opportunity to develop skills that come from spontaneous play in the streets. Furthermore, children’s capacity for socialization has been reduced, as they are nearly always accompanied by their parents.

Cities designed for children

Given the lack of space for children in most cities, there is an urgent need for urban planning that prioritizes children, with safe areas, accessible mobility, and access to play. Some cities have begun developing initiatives to create safe spaces for both children and the elderly.

In Barcelona, the Superblocks (Supermanzanas) program, part of the city’s Urban Mobility Plan, has transformed the city by reallocating space from cars to pedestrians. The closure of certain streets to traffic has led to the development of safe areas for children, including more trees, seating, playgrounds, and sports activity zones.

In Copenhagen, the design of streets and public areas prioritizes both the safety and enjoyment of children. Accessible by foot and bike, the city boasts numerous parks and green spaces that provide safe areas for children to play.

Urban planning designed for children must include spacious play areas, open courtyards, wide sidewalks, benches, parks, and, most importantly, consider the opinions of children to ensure their acceptance, to design the public spaces.

Photos | InfoTimisoara, Andriy Babchiy

Related Content

Recommended profiles for you

FM
Francoise Mouly
Innovation Centre for Education iCE Doha
Co-founder and Director
EB
ezgi bentürk
İzmir Büyükşehir Belediyesi
CG
Carme Gual
ACCD
CEO
VS
Vikas Sharde
Banaras Hindu University Varanasi
Post Doctoral Fellow
CC
cristina castellano
tecnic
NL
Nicole La Iacona
City of Mechelen
funding advisor
CP
Catalina Polini
Synthesis Design Studio
Co-Founder
UN
uyen nguyen
vfdvd
CD
Cindy Danieles
Fredensborg Kommune
Digitalization consultant
ER
Elena Ramdohr
Messe Berlin
Project manager
DM
Daniel Musyimi
Kabarak University
SP
Stephen Poon
Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation, Malaysia
Head of Research Centre
AS
Ana Salvador
Empresa Publica Metropolitana Habitat y Vivienda
Director/ Adviser
AK
Aysegul Kardas
Çankaya Municipality
FC
FIDEL CORREA SERNA
OPNE CONSULTORES Y SERVICIOS
Gerente
VC
Victor Carvalho
Optimizer-Lda
Responsable for R&D&I of the enterprise. Business Manager.
MK
Mahmoud Kalhori
Municipality rejoins 5 from tehran
Mayor of region 5 of Tehran municipality
YP
Yolanda Pérez
ESDAP
Student
MS
María Eugenia Salvador
Freelance
Jefa de prensa
LS
Lilian Nataly Soberanes
CONAVI
Chief of Department