The place of children in the city: what are the public issues?

It's becoming increasingly rare to see children walking or playing alone in urban public spaces. Faced with this social evolution, some cities are rethinking their facilities.

Sylvain Wagnon, University of Montpellier

It is becoming increasingly rare to see children walking alone in public spaces, due to urban planning that is poorly adapted to their needs. Their absence, or even their rejection of certain spaces, is now a recognized reality. Witness the front page headline in the February 19, 2024 issue of the French daily Libération, Moi, mioche et gênant, or the article in Le Monde highlighting the proliferation of "no kids" places.

The idea of a city designed "at children's level" therefore represents a radically different perspective. This ambition, shared by a growing number of metropolises, seeks to respond to a range of urban challenges, particularly those relating to mobility and living together. How can we characterize this innovative approach, which could shape the city of tomorrow?

City challenges from a child's point of view

Defining the city at children's level means considering their needs, perspectives and experiences in the design, planning and management of urban spaces.

As Clément Rivière, sociologist and scientific director of the Ville à Hauteur d'Enfant laboratory in Lille, a pioneering city in this field, explains in Mouvements magazine:

"This approach invites us to think about reappropriating these spaces for children, by questioning the role of the automobile, promoting autonomous mobility and free play, and encouraging children to play a real part in shaping the city.

Such an approach, global in nature, implies a series of challenges. First of all, accessibility requires, for example, "friendly" signage appropriate to children's age and size, as well as a good spatial distribution of schools, day-care centers and libraries, to avoid an enclave of which they are the first victims.

Secondly, children need safe, appropriate means of transport to get around the city. Wide sidewalks, landscaped areas around schools, protected bike paths and accessible public transport are essential.

School streets in Lille (2020).

Then, the city at children's height must be inclusive to enable all children to play outdoors. Green spaces offer opportunities to discover nature and relax that should be accessible to all.

Finally, involving children in decisions concerning their urban environment gives them a sense of belonging and strengthens their civic commitment. Since 1979 in France, children's councils have been set up in a large number of local authorities as a means of increasing children's role in urban decision-making and change.

A political ambition

However, the desire to rethink the city from a child's point of view is nothing new. Some local authorities have used this policy as a lever for social and urban transformation, such as the city of Recife in Brazil, with its Urban95 program. Closer to home, the city of Basel in Switzerland has implemented "Eyes at 1m20 ", a comprehensive redevelopment of the city with and for children.

In France since 2002, UNICEF France has been developing a network of "child-friendly " local authorities to make children's rights effective in urban areas. More than 246 towns and 16 inter-municipalities are part of this network:

"Becoming a child-friendly local authority is a political commitment on a regional scale, involving all elected representatives, local authority staff, educational partners, local residents and, of course, children and young people. Over the course of a term of office, child-friendly communities make commitments in five areas: well-being, non-discrimination and equality, education, participation and raising awareness of children's rights.

Metropolises such as Nantes and Rennes intend to place children's needs at the heart of their public policies. For Lille, Lomme and Hellemmes, forerunners in this field, the creation of a "city at children's level" laboratory is an opportunity to develop the power to act in a city at children's level, and to involve all residents in this new approach.

Child-friendly cities (TV 78, 2019)

For its part, Montpellier is building on the initiative of Italian sociologist Francesco Tonucci, whose town of Fano, Italy, has adopted a whole series of concrete measures to enable children to experience urban space to the full. In 2023, the Hérault municipality became the first French town to join the international "Children's Town" network, which brings together over 200 towns in 16 countries working towards urban (r)evolution through the children's town.

An educational, inclusive and ecological approach

The end of the all-powerful automobile and the creation of pedestrian zones where children can play in complete safety is one step in this urban evolution. Pontevedra in Spain has made pedestrianization and the complementarity of means of transport the driving force behind its Children's City.

A child-friendly city can be learned not only by the family, but also by other users. For example, as in Fano, we've set up relay shops marked with a logo where children know they can get help if they need to ask for directions or go to the toilet, helping to develop their personal autonomy.

Installing playground equipment, benches and green spaces creates playful, attractive environments, as does the city of Barcelona with its green islands. The first step in familiarizing children and adults alike with a different urban culture is to provide them with specially adapted areas around their schools.

The example of the growing number of school streets that are closed to motorized traffic when children are arriving and leaving is an illustration of safe, healthy, practical and educational spaces where children and parents can meet.

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Thinking about and implementing the place of children in the city can be a lever for a sustainable city. We need to be careful not to create a city for the few, but a public space for all, cities that take into account both the uniqueness of each child and the desire to create a truly inclusive city.

Sylvain Wagnon, Professor of Education, Faculty of Education, University of Montpellier

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