Cities are for children too

We frequently come across rankings or discussions about the most disabled-friendly cities, the most women-friendly cities, or even the most elderly-friendly cities. This is as it should be. These are special classes of citizens with special, unique needs that cities must cater to if they are to become truly just, fair, and inclusive.

Similarly, there is a need to think about and work towards child-friendly cities. Among various classes of citizens, children are perhaps the most special. They have special needs, which they are often unable to express clearly, especially when they are very young. It is left to the parent or guardian to understand and cater to these needs. As an extension, they are more vulnerable too. The child’s needs range from physical to emotional, recreational, educational, developmental, companionship, security, and so on. There is a need to understand these needs well.

How can city planners, urbanists, architects, local bodies, and others work to make their cities more child-friendly? In order to meet the educational needs of children, various bodies, be it the central or state governments, local bodies, or private agencies that run schools, must ensure that the schools are well-equipped with adequate resources and staff to impart quality education meeting the requirements of various economic segments. This aspect is a fundamental necessity, even guaranteed by law. The other needs careful planning and meticulous execution. For example, recreational needs require appropriate facilities like parks and gardens, playgrounds, and stadia. Among development needs, there must be a focus on identifying and supporting talent across various spheres (music, painting, etc.). This is best done by school teachers among students at a young age, jointly with parents. Local authorities can promote these by organising contests and competitions in a local area to bring together children in a spirit of participation and excellence. Other general activities like clay modelling, puzzle solving, and cookery classes can provide a stress-free environment for the young and help them develop problem-solving skills while also helping them discover their own talents.

And then, there are several non-academic activities that can help children grow into responsible citizens while making valuable contributions to society. Some of these could be in the areas of road safety, fire safety, first aid, and health and hygiene. In fact, these could become mandatory. Local authorities (traffic police personnel, public health officials, and fire brigade staff) could actively encourage and participate in these programmes, as they will have a big multiplier effect in creating a safer society. There are surely a large number of possible initiatives and programmes that can help bring about the wholesome growth, development, and well-being of our children, the future citizens. It is necessary to bring together various stakeholders—parents, teachers, young adults, etc.—and encourage their participation in designing and executing these programmes. The lead could be taken by local public representatives, like councilors. All-out efforts must be made to meet the multi-dimensional needs of children while also enabling them to evolve into responsible citizens thereby increasing the sustainability quotient of cities. The recent experience of ‘Happy Streets’ on Sunday mornings, where roads are made vehicle-free for children to play, is an example. As architect and urban designer Natalia Krysiak says, “There is no doubt that a child-friendly city and a sustainable city are fundamentally interlinked.”