Child in the City: Planning Communities for Children and their Families

Child and family-friendly communities acknowledge that an environment that addresses the needs of children - who have limited independent mobility, experience, and autonomy - is one that is friendlier and more accessible to people of all ages and abilities. This toolkit has been developed collaboratively, with voluntary input from local governments, non-profit housing organizations, architects, urban designers, urban planners, developers, real estate specialists, researchers, and educators. This toolkit is not intended to exclude adults and seniors, but rather provide a lens through which planners, designers, and policy-makers can support child and family-friendly development practices that have positive intergenerational benefits. To plan our cities in a way that enables children to be co-authors of their own communities is key to a sustainable - and inclusive - future. If the city tells a story of experience, opportunity, and ownership, then its design should enable all citizens to write their own story.