Useful for urban designers and city planners, this report presents findings on urban design solutions for increasing child-friendliness at the neighbourhood level, based on a project funded by the Bernard van Leer Foundation. It reviews the literature on best practices, analyses indicators on the suitability of the public sphere for young children and their parents, presents empirical data on neighbourhoods in Eindhoven (The Netherlands) and Jerusalem (Israel), and develops recommendations for better design of streets, public spaces and neighbourhoods to fit the needs of young children and their families.
The quality of public space in urban and suburban spaces is crucial for physical, social and cognitive development of young children and as opportunities of outside play.