Early childhood development and cities

When young children are considered in urban planning and policy, it is often in the realms of health and education. Further, early childhood interventions and policies are often siloed or conceived of with a narrow focus, rather than thinking wholistically about the city. The Urban95 Initiative developed by the Van Leer Foundation, asks urban planners and policy makers to think beyond those sectors and to think collaboratively. The approach invites municipal leaders to consider cities from 95cm, the height of a healthy three-year-old and from that vantage point, to see how the whole city could change to better support young children and their caregivers. By exploring urban design and planning through the lens of
early childhood development (ECD) one must consider children, and caregiver needs across all aspects of urban life.

The Urban95 Academy originated from the Urban95 Initiative and is a joint collaboration from the Van Leer Foundation and LSE Cities, providing training to municipal leaders worldwide to gain tools to develop strategies to design and deliver better cities for babies, toddlers and their caregivers. (Urban95 Academy, 2025). There is ample evidence that young children and their caregivers interact with the built
environment in particular ways. For example, people who care for young children use public transport and other non-motorised transport modes at higher rates than those who don’t have caregiving responsibilities (Kurshitashvili et al. 2022). Public spaces often fail to meet the needs of young children, with many urban environments lacking accessible, child-friendly areas that are necessary to promote exploration, play, and learning. Inadequate or lack of access to green spaces and parks limit opportunities for physical activity, which is crucial for children’s health and cognitive development (González et al., 2010).
Despite their reliance on public space and infrastructure for healthy development, the voices and experiences of young children and those who care for them are seldom considered in urban planning and design. This lack of recognition can lead to negative outcomes, such as inadequate access to safe places to play and socialise, or insufficient transportation options tailored to young children and their caregivers. These deficiencies not only affect children’s healthy development and wellbeing but also create challenges for caregivers, often leading to heightened stress, limited mobility, and barriers to full participation in urban life.

source :

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/umair-khan-01a583268_early-children-development-and-urban-planning-activity-7303270607658401793-9enp?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAtGGkQBsxwMBmX3lEJO8btihnfBCaHqTz4