What makes a neighbourhood truly child-friendly?

It’s a place where children are not just "seen" but where their natural joy of life is felt. Where they are not limited to a fenced playground, but are part of everyday life and public space. Children go to school here, play close to home, ride their bikes and leave behind small traces of life - toys on the sidewalk, scooters left behind or the ground drawn with chalk. These are all signs of an environment that not only allows children to be outdoors, but actively encourages them to do so. And that's what a neighbourhood that gives kids space to be kids looks like.

Can you be a little more specific about what elements contribute to this?

In the book All to Play for: How to design child-friendly housing, we defined four basic principles: views, car-free streets, direct access to the street from the house and natural connections between spaces. Children can move freely and safely in child-friendly neighbourhoods. Such spaces do not need to be large or elaborately designed, often just a wide sidewalk, easy access to nature and greenery, a quiet street without cars or with a 20 km/h speed limit. Above all, the relationship between the house and the outdoor space is important: it is enough, for example, for parents to be able to see it from the window and for children to be able to use it safely.

What is the role of children's play in the design of cities and urban living?

Playing is not a luxury or a superstructure. It is a basic human need - as important to the development of a child, and thus to society as a whole, as food, sleep or shelter. Through playing, children develop creativity, physical fitness, social skills and emotional resilience. Play is deeply ingrained in us; it’s part of what makes us human. Yet it is often neglected in urban planning. Children are among the most active users of public space. Their needs should therefore be at the heart of urban planning. And that doesn't just mean building more playgrounds. This means creating a variety of environments where play can happen naturally - on the way to school, in the streets or in open green spaces. Playing is not the icing on the cake. It is its basic ingredient. It should be a natural part of everyday life in the city, not perceived as a mere accessory. Because when we design spaces that encourage children to play, we're not just contributing to their development - we're creating a healthier, more vibrant and connected community for all of us.

What are the advantages of children being able to play in an open environment compared to the limited space of traditional playgrounds?

Children's play should not end at the playground fence. While playgrounds offer parents a sense of security and a space to meet, they can be restrictive. Real play thrives in an open, flexible environment where children have the freedom to explore, take risks and interact with others. Play is a natural activity that children engage in with each other and requires enough space and time to engage in without constant adult interference. The best memories of childhood are often made outside these structured spaces - through spontaneous adventures, social interactions and moments of unplanned encounters and discoveries. The public space right outside our door is a crucial area where children can play freely. However, this space is often occupied by cars, which limits children's ability to explore, move and develop. While playgrounds are useful, they are designed with the comfort and concerns of adults in mind. They don't allow for as many varied and complex experiences as free play: the kind that brings different age groups together, the opportunity to take risks or to get "lost" in one's own world for a while. If we want to promote the healthy and natural development of children, we must give them the space to play not according to our ideas, but according to their own rules.

How can housing development support the lives of families in the city?

Housing should not only provide privacy and a roof over your head. It should create space for relationships and a sense of belonging. We are giving conflicting signals to the younger generations. We encourage children to spend less time in front of screens and more time engaging with the world around them. But then we design houses and neighbourhoods that keep them in, away from natural social life. When close friends, shared outdoor spaces, or visible community life are absent, it's no wonder that screens replace the experiences we've removed from our surroundings. Therefore, urban planning cannot only consist in the design of buildings. It must create the conditions for social ties. It means designing homes and public spaces to naturally encourage contact, mutual visibility and neighbourhood support. This is the only way we can start to offer meaningful alternatives to digital connectivity and build communities where people, and children in particular, can thrive both online and in their everyday lives out among others.

How can architects and urban planners use small interventions in a space to make children feel safe and welcome in their surroundings?

Even small adjustments can have a surprisingly large impact. It's not just about the buildings themselves, but what happens in between. However, design alone is not enough, two other key elements need to be secured: time and permission to play. They need space in their daily routine for unstructured, spontaneous activities - and a clear signal that they are allowed to play in their environment. By rethinking how we design and communicate about public space, we can create an environment where children feel not only safe, but welcome. A place where they have space to be themselves.

How can we reconcile the need for high-density housing with the creation of sufficient space for children?

Strategic planning is the key. We should design cities with children's play in mind - both at the macro level of entire neighbourhoods and in the everyday details. London, for example, can take inspiration from its planning policy, which requires at least 10 m² of play space per child. It's not a perfect system, but the very existence of such a rule forces developers and urban planners to think about children from the start, not after the fact. High density does not automatically mean a loss of environmental quality. But it means thinking smart - how to design functional, well-connected and usable spaces that will serve all generations, including the youngest.

What needs to be done to create child-friendly cities that truly support and value children?

Real change requires interplay between city leadership, departments and communities. Local authorities must integrate child-friendly policies into all areas of their planning - from transport and housing to education. But change also starts at the level of everyday life. Parents, residents and communities must actively encourage the presence of children in public spaces. And crucially, children themselves should be part of this conversation, because they have valuable insights that adults often overlook. Their voices, together with those of architects and local residents, can help shape cities where children are not only tolerated, but welcomed, perceived and valued as full citizens.

Watch the recording of Dinah Bornat's CAMP talk: