Children must be at the forefront of the minds of our planners. Children and young people have their unique perspective on what matters in their place. They see their environment with fresh eyes and enquiring minds,
Young children experience the city, town or village from a different height. What they need from and value in a place is different from what adults need. Children need open space and places for recreation, environmentally friendly, sustainable and safe environments, and a child-centred place to live, play and go to school.
Engaging children in the urban design and planning helps to create a sense of place and a pride in that place. It lays the roots of community engagement and belonging, that can last a lifetime. Planners have a duty to respond to those unique needs and perspectives and build them into the planning for and thinking about urban design.
