Child-friendly City Research Articles

Design and validation of Iranian Child Health-Friendly Neighbourhood checklist: a mixed-methods study

BackgroundA child health-friendly neighbourhood is defined as a neighbourhood where the child’s health is provided, protected and promoted. Designing and validation of an assessment tool is required to identify the...

Children’s Perspectives of Neighbourhood Spaces: Gender-Based Insights From Participatory Mapping and GIS Analysis

Although several urban design and planning features, such as community spaces, green infrastructure, and traffic measures that prioritise pedestrians and children, have been identified as important characteristics of child-friendly cities and neighbourhoods, there remains a gap in our understanding regarding the specific elements of children’s daily environments that influence their experiences. This study focuses on the everyday activity spaces of children (aged 9–12) living in physically and socially diverse neighbourhoods of low-to-average income in Ankara, Turkey. Drawing on findings from thematic and qualitative GIS-based analyses of 40 participatory map-based focus groups with 217 children, this study aims to understand how neighbourhood design influences children’s everyday experiences across different neighbourhood types and genders. By visualising children’s perceptions of their neighbourhoods and activity spaces, and thematically analysing their comments related to neighbourhood design features that may facilitate positive and negative experiences, this child-centred study contributes to the limited research on children’s experiences of place. Our findings revealed key neighbourhood design features influencing children’s experiences and highlighted gender-based differences. While natural settings were valued across settings and genders, boys reported more physical activities in open spaces while girls more frequently emphasised the need for accessible playgrounds and natural settings. Children in urban neighbourhoods frequented streets, parks, and local shops more often, while those in suburban and sprawling areas preferred amenities near their homes. The study demonstrates that children’s positive everyday experiences can be supported by modifying the neighbourhood design, providing valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers on developing more child-friendly neighbourhoods.

Evaluation of Child-Friendly Outdoor Spaces in Old Residential Areas

Creating child-friendly outdoor spaces in old residential areas has become a necessary part of the construction of child-friendly cities nowadays. This paper first collects data to establish the evaluation system of child-friendly outdoor space in old residential areas in Huizhou City through the literature collection method, then conducts sample research on three old neighborhoods in Huizhou City through fieldwork, and finally combines the evaluation system to evaluate the child-friendly outdoor space in old neighborhoods in Huizhou City.

Implementasi Program PUSPAGA Dalam Pencegahan Kekerasan Anak di Kota Serang

Children have the same rights guaranteed by the state. Fulfilling children's rights is the responsibility of local governments to improve child-friendly cities through the PUSPAGA program. But the fact is that there are still many children, especially in the city of Serang, who are still victims of violence, which is increasing every year. This research focuses on the implementation of the PUSPAGA Program in preventing child violence in Serang City and aims to find out more about the implementation of the PUSPAGA program in preventing child violence in Serang City using the A Model of Implementation theory according to Van Metter and Van Horn. This research uses descriptive qualitative research methods, then the data is analyzed based on the results of observations, interviews and documentation. The results of this research show that the implementation of the PUSPAGA Cahaya Hati Program in preventing violence against children has not been carried out optimally due to the existence of constraints and obstacles, namely the absence of counselors to provide counseling services, the absence of guidance to sub-district cadres related to the PUSPAGA Program, the facilities and infrastructure available. inadequate and there are still minimal outreach and promotional activities carried out due to limited budget funds.

Research on the Path of College Students Participating in Volunteer Assistance to Build a Child-Friendly City: Taking Colleges and Universities in Wenzhou as an Example

In recent years, with the development of society and the progress of the times, how to effectively do a good job in teaching guidance has gradually become a key issue of concern for teachers. Some survey results show that by actively organizing college students to carry out volunteer service activities, it is conducive to promoting the construction of child-friendly cities, providing a good growth atmosphere for the majority of children, and has a positive role in promoting the harmony and stability of our society. Taking colleges and universities in Wenzhou as an example and combining vocational education and teaching work as an entry point, this paper studies the path for college students to participate in volunteer assistance in building child-friendly cities, hoping to effectively promote the sorting and summary of relevant work experience.

Research on the Design of Child-Friendly Landscape Space in Chengdu Crown Community Based on SDG

Objective: This study aims to explore and implement a child-centred landscape space design strategy to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in the old residential environment of the Crown Community in Chengdu, China. Theoretical Framework: The study constructs a theoretical framework for child-friendly communities based on the United Nations' children's rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and Goal 13 (Climate Action). Method: Through literature review and field research, combined with questionnaires, this study collected 120 child samples, analyzed their behavioural needs, and proposed corresponding landscape space design strategies. Research Implications: The study found that the needs of children in the Crown Community mainly focus on natural experience, research experience, game interaction, and hiding exploration. The design strategy transforms the existing space into an art garden, a book garden, and a children's playground to meet these needs and promote the realization of SDGs. Research Significance: The study emphasizes that improving children's living environment through landscape design is significant to achieving the goals of sustainable cities and communities in SDGs. Originality/Value: This study provides an innovative approach to integrating SDGs into renovating old communities and offers a new perspective for designing child-friendly landscape spaces, which will help promote the renewal of old urban communities and the construction of child-friendly cities.

Walking to School: What Streets Do Children Prefer?

Active school travel provides children with a daily opportunity to engage actively with their local urban environments. Despite widespread recognition that understanding the underlying factors of children’s navigation choices is crucial for developing effective environmental interventions to promote active school travel, there is limited evidence on children’s experiences regarding their school journeys. This is due in part to the fact that most studies rely on GIS-calculated routes which may not adequately represent children’s actual home-school journeys, and hence actual experiences. This study aims to identify specific environmental attributes influencing children’s navigation choices based on children’s (9–10 year olds) actual walking routes to school in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. 45 pairs of selected and avoided streets were compared using a range of urban form (e.g., street connectivity measured through space syntax variables) and street design (e.g., footpath width) characteristics. Statistical analysis highlighted significant design attributes as potential determinants of navigation selections. In-depth street-level observations provided insight into the urban character of these street pairs, identifying the environmental qualities that could offer opportunities for active and safe commuting among children. This study contributes to the literature by broadening our understanding of the environmental attributes that may promote active school travel. Our findings, based on children’s actual experiences, may also inform urban planners and designers on designing inclusive child-friendly cities.

Research on Child-Friendly Evaluation and Optimization Strategies for Rural Public Spaces

Public spaces are essential for the implementation of child-friendly principles and the development of child-friendly cities, with positive and healthy environments playing a crucial role in supporting children’s well-being and development. However, existing research on child-friendly public spaces predominantly targets economically developed urban areas with robust public service infrastructure, often neglecting rural areas with less advanced facilities. This study utilizes grounded theory and qualitative analysis to propose a child-friendly public space evaluation framework specifically for rural settings. The framework includes four primary indicators—safety, accessibility, comfort, and multifunctionality—and 19 secondary indicators, such as facility safety and plant safety. An empirical investigation was conducted in Baishoupu Town, a child-friendly pilot area within Changsha, China, which is designated as a United Nations Child-Friendly City, and the study encompassed an analysis of 11 rural villages within this area. The findings reveal that while Baishoupu Town demonstrates a relatively high level of child-friendly development, there is significant disparity among individual villages. Key determinants affecting the child-friendliness of rural public spaces include the type of rural industry, per capita income levels, and the degree of policy support. Specifically, the advancement of public service infrastructure and the tourism sector significantly influence the primary indicators. Moreover, while rural road infrastructure is positively correlated with accessibility, the presence of through traffic adversely affects safety indicators. Based on these insights, this study recommends enhancing child-friendliness in rural public spaces through strategic village planning, spatial design improvements, and ensuring child participation. This research provides valuable insights for government policy development and implementation and offers a replicable framework for child-friendly public space development in rural areas globally.

Environmentally Smart House Services for the Children in The City of Bekasi, Indonesia

The city of Bekasi was awarded as one of child-friendly cities in Indonesia, by the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection in 2022. The city government is committed to fulfilling children's rights, included in a Bekasi City Regional Regulation Number 13 of 2017, concerning child friendly cities. To fulfill children's rights, the Bekasi City government built smart homes to improve child-friendly cities. Smart homes are a facility used for the children, which they use to learn, play and create things, without any charge. Currently, there are 7 smart houses built in Bekasi City, with another 5 being planned to be built in every sub district. The aim of this research was to identify the service coverage of 7 smart houses that serve Bekasi City, and to provide some recommendations for those to be built. This research used a mixed method, which involved an observation assessment, a score analysis and a spatial analysis. The results of the study showed that, of the 7 smart houses in Bekasi City located in several subdistricts, two were in good conditions (Pondok Gede and Bekasi Timur), three were in moderate conditions (Bekasi Selatan, Mustika Jaya, Rawa Lumbu), and the remaining two were in bad conditions (Medan Satria, Bekasi Utara). It can also be concluded that, based on the service coverage, the Pondok Gede covered another 5 districts, with a distance of 3100 m.

Laying the Foundations for a Child-Focused Cities Analytical Framework: Reflections From an International, Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Children, a unique yet marginalized social group, hold immense potential for driving meaningful social and environmental change, both in their current lives and as future stewards of the planet. However, their significant contributions often depend on the mechanisms and opportunities adults create to facilitate their participation and inclusion. This places local governance at a crucial juncture, mediating children’s involvement in shaping their urban environments. This research was initiated by the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy in 2022, gathering international scholars and practitioners to critically assess the “child-friendly city” concept. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the study sought to advance the notion from simply being “friendly” to a deeper commitment to amplifying children’s voices within social, physical, and relational spheres. The methodology transitioned from initial academic discussions to the creation of a comprehensive analytical tool, the “Child-Focused Cities Analytical Framework.” This framework aims to tackle the complex challenges of child participation, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in both local and global settings. This article unveils new insights at the intersection of children’s rights, the SDGs, and local governance, laying the groundwork for a model that prioritizes and enhances children’s perspectives, thereby catalyzing social and environmental progress.

Kinerja Institusi DP3APPKB dalam Pelaksanaan Program Pelayanan Pusat Pembelajaran Keluarga Surabaya

Research related to the performance of the Department of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection as well as Population Control and Family Planning (DP3APPKB) in implementing the PUSPAGA Surabaya service program is an important thing to carry out considering that there are still high cases of child violence in Surabaya and the government of Surabaya must maintain its achievements as a Child Friendly City at a high level six times in a row. This research was conducted at DP3APPKB Surabaya. The purpose of this research is to determine, describe and analyze the level of organizational performance at the DP3APPKB Service in implementing the PUSPAGA Surabaya service program. The research method used is qualitative with a case study approach. The theory used is the theory of organizational performance according to Soesilo in Tangkilisan (2005) which includes organizational structure, management policies, human resources, management information systems and facilities and infrastructure. This research is related to the performance of the organization at DP3APPKB in implementing the PUSPAGA Surabaya service program. The results of this research indicate that the performance of DP3APPKB Surabaya in implementing the PUSPAGA Surabaya service program has been carried out quite well, because there are still several obstacles such as, PUSPAGA public halls not carrying out tasks or job desks in accordance with the division of the organizational structure, unequal distribution of human resources in providing services PUSPAGA Surabaya, especially for public halls that do not receive volunteer assistance from DP3APPKB Surabaya. Furthermore, most Surabaya residents do not know the use of the SIAP PPAK application which is used as a tool to measure the success of online consultation services and database management in implementing the PUSPAGA Surabaya service program. The facilities and infrastructure of PUSPAGA Surabaya are quite good and have followed the guidelines from the Ministry of PPA, but this does not apply to PUSPAGA public halls.

Child health-friendly neighbourhood: a qualitative study to explore the perspectives and experiences of experts and mothers of children under 6 years of age in Tehran, Iran

ObjectivesCreating health-supportive environments is one of the key strategies for health promotion. The WHO launched the Healthy Cities Initiative which has inspired other international organisations to develop settings-based health initiatives,...

Constructing child-friendly cities: Comprehensive evaluation of street-level child-friendliness using the method of empathy-based stories, street view images, and deep learning

Despite the fact that streets are a crucial element in the development of child-friendly cities, existing street planning often overlooks child-friendliness. With the Gulou District of Nanjing as a case study, we used the method of empathy-based stories to assess the perception of children regarding the urban street environment and deep learning to evaluate the child-friendliness levels of streets on a large scale. Furthermore, we explored the effects of different street view elements on the child-friendliness and identified effective improvement strategies. The results showed that the streets in Gulou District generally had low child-friendliness levels, where low-level streets comprised 41.635 %, and extremely high-level streets only comprised 0.407 %. The spatial analysis revealed that areas with higher child-friendliness were concentrated in southeastern Gulou District, whereas areas with lower friendliness were predominantly on its periphery. Our work also indirectly reveals potential differences in the perception of street elements between children and adults. Children tend to favor artificial elements like buildings, walls, and fences. Our research emphasizes the urgency and importance of improving the existing street environment to support the development of child-friendly cities.

Efforts and Obstacles of the Banda Aceh Government in the Development of Child-Friendly City Policies

The City of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh Province, has been committed to developing a Child-Friendly City Policy since 2013. However, to date, the City of Banda Aceh has still not achieved Child-Friendly City status, as evidenced by the absence of an increase in ranking in 2023 compared to the previous year. This city continued to maintain its Nindya level by the assessment in 2022. This research aims to identify efforts and inhibiting factors in developing Child-Friendly City policies, especially in the institutional cluster aspect. Using Institutional Development Theory by Milton J. Esman (1967), this research applies qualitative methods. Research findings show that Banda Aceh has not achieved Child-Friendly City status because the institutional indicators of a Child-Friendly City are not yet optimal, resulting in the fulfillment of children’s rights not being implemented comprehensively. The obstacles that cause Banda Aceh not to achieve this status involve limited budget resources, the absence of a Regional Action Plan, a lack of understanding of human resources regarding policies, minimal involvement from the business world, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Suggestions include: (i) Evaluate budget resource allocation for KLA, (ii) Immediately develop RAD-KAL as a guide for program implementation, (iii) Increase understanding of human resources through training, (iv) Encourage formal collaboration with the business world, (v) Designing an adaptive strategy for the disruptive impact of the pandemic for KLA. Keywords: Banda Aceh; Child- Friendly City; Public Policy.

Analisis Kebijakan Kota Layak Anak Dalam Perspektif Hak Sipil Dan Kebebasan Anak Di Kota Surabaya

Children are the future leaders of a nation's development, thus they have the right to special treatment in the form of protection and child rights. Accelerating the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Child-Friendly City (CFC) policy was initiated in 2006. In its implementation, CFC is divided into 5 clusters of children's rights that must be fulfilled, one of which is civil rights and freedoms. Surabaya City is recognized as a Child-Friendly City and has maintained this status for the past six years. Given this achievement, it is interesting to analyze the implementation of the CFC in Surabaya concerning the cluster of Civil Rights and Freedoms. This study employs a descriptive qualitative research method, gathering both primary and secondary data, which are comprehensively analyzed through data reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. The research findings reveal strong commitment demonstrated by Surabaya City in its Child-Friendly City policy to fulfill children's civil rights and freedoms, evidenced by easy access to birth certificates and identity cards for children, as well as the establishment of the Child Friendly Information Center (Pusat Informasi Sahabat Anak - PISA) enabling children to access information and exchange ideas freely. There is a need for enhanced collaboration among government, NGOs, and the community to ensure the equitable implementation of the Child-Friendly City initiative, extending to suburban areas. Keywords: Public Policy, Child-Friendly City, Children's Civil Rights and Freedoms

Implementasi Kebijakan Peraturan Daerah Kota Surabaya No 3 Tahun 2023 Tentang Perlindungan Anak Berbasis Rumah Anak Prestasi Di Kota Surabaya

Child protection treatment that has been regulated in the Surabaya City Regional Regulation Policy No. 3 of 2023 concerning child protection. The content of the policy also regulates the protection of children with special needs to get special needs met, equal rights, the same behavior as other children to achieve full social integration and get social assistance. The city of Surabaya which received the award as a Child-Friendly City for five consecutive times. In realizing the protection of children with special needs based on the achievement children's home program which was inaugurated in 2022 on Jl. Nginden Semolo no.23. Qualitative research with a descriptive approach aims to find out how the implementation of child protection policies in the city of Surabaya. The data collection process obtained from interviews, observations and documents is used as research data analysis. The policy implementation model according to Mazmanian and Sabatier is based on three influencing variables. The results of this study show that the implementation of child protection policies based on achievement children's homes in the city of Surabaya is running according to the content of the policy. Participation from implementing officials and commitment to improve service quality

Construction of Child-Friendly Cities from the Perspective of Children's Philosophy

Children are the future builders of the country and society. Cities should be based on the principle of inclusiveness inclusiveness and incorporate children’s rights into one of the core elements of urban development. Based on the dynamic development and child philosophical theory of child-friendly city practice at home and abroad, this study discusses the background, practical dynamics and philosophical value of child-friendly city construction, and analyzes the dilemmas and countermeasures in the current construction. In terms of research methodology, this article reviews the international and domestic practice dynamics of child-friendly cities, and combines the theoretical perspective of child philosophy to put forward the specific construction mode and value orientations. The results show that the construction of child-friendly cities needs to integrate children’s perspective into urban planning and construction, pay attention to children’s life, promote the allocation of public resources, and ensure that urban construction meets the needs of children􀆳s physical and mental development. At the same time, it is necessary to establish a sound coordination mechanism for child priority development, introduce child impact assessment, and apply digital means to innovate the way of working with children. Building a child-friendly city also emphasizes public values, focuses on children’s participation and development, strengthens the two-way interaction between children and the environment, and establishes emotional ties. Building a child-friendly city not only contributes to the all-round development of children, but also provides a solid foundation for the long-term development of the city. The conclusions of this study provide valuable references for policy makers and urban planners and help to advance the construction process of child-friendly cities.

Implementasi Pemenuhan Hak Anak dalam Mewujudkan Kota Layak Anak di Kota Samarinda: Content Variable Analysis

In order to realize a Child Friendly City, the Samarinda City Government implementing the Fulfillment of Children’s Rights program. This research aims to determine the implementation of the fulfillment of children’s rights carried out by the Samarinda City Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Service, on policy content variables based on the theory of policy implementation model from Grindle which consist of six elements, namely the interest affected by the policy, the types of benefits generated, the degree of change that occurs, the position of policy makers, program implementers and the resources mobilized. By using a qualitative descriptive research approach, this research concludes that the implementation of Child Friendly Regency/City in Samarinda City based on the contents of its policies has achieved good results with obtained the Nindya level of Child Friendly City award through involving various cross-sectoral stakeholders and placing children as “Pioneers and Reporters” in involvement in the Children’s Forum. The Samarinda City Child Friendly City program has become a pilot area for other regions in East Kalimantan Province. However, the comprehensive fulfillment of children’s rights has still not been achieved, especially for children in the street, homeless, beggars and children who have been married early. There is a need for cooperation between the Samarinda City Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Service and the Social Service that is more progressive in handling these children’s cases to fulfill their rights better.

Analysis of Implementation of City Policy for Children Basic Health and Child Welfare Cluster in Makssar City

Background: Implementation of the child-friendly city policy in the basic health and child welfare cluster is a step towards realizing a child-friendly city, through fulfilling children's rights to basic health and child welfare carried out by the Makassar City Government together with the business world and the community. Objective: The aim of this research is to analyze the implementation of child-friendly city policies in Makassar City in the basic health and child welfare cluster. Method: The research method used was a qualitative-exploratory approach using observation, in-depth interviews and literature study of all research informants selected using purposive sampling. The theory used is the implementation theory of Van Metter and Van Horn. Results: The results of this research indicate that the implementation of the child-friendly city policy in the basic health and child welfare cluster in Makassar City has been successful but has not run optimally. Human resources are sufficient but not of high quality, the budget is still limited and there is no clear time target. Characteristics of implementing agents who are less firm in implementing policies. The attitude/tendency of the implementing agent has shown acceptance. Communication and coordination between organizations has not been established well. The economic, social and political environment is not yet conducive. Conclusion: Although human and financial resources are sufficient, the lack of certification training and coordination between implementing agencies as well as the low economic level of the community hinder the effective implementation of this policy.

Non-linear effects of children's daily travel distance on their travel mode choice considering different destinations

The scientific layout of child-friendly facilities in the community is of great significance to children's daily activities and healthy growth, which is also a vital concern of the United Nations. However, there is little evidence to prove the intrinsic mechanism of children's daily travel behavior and daily travel destinations. Therefore, this study takes 118 communities in Shuangliu District, Chengdu, as an example and uses a eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model to explore the non-linear effects and threshold effects of children's daily travel distance on their travel mode choices by considering different destinations of children's daily travel in the communities. We found that children's daily travel distances and destinations are vital for their travel mode choice, especially the most significant effect of travel distance. For different children's daily travel destinations, travel distance has a more substantial threshold effect on children's non-walking travel mode choice. Therefore, to scientifically and rationally distribute child-friendly facilities in the community, which may help children's healthy development, a child-friendly city should be planned, constructed, or renewed through the internal logical relationship between children's daily travel destinations, travel distances, and travel mode choices should be considered comprehensively.