Children and urban planning

Children are affected by their environment to a greater extent than adults, while children often have little opportunity to influence their environment or choose where they live. Child-friendly urban planning aims to promote a good living and growing environment, as well as offering a wide range of cultural experiences and leisure activities, where all children also have access to nature and greenery.

In a child-friendly city, free play and exploration are prioritized. Being able to move independently between home, school and leisure activities is also important for children's health and development. Careful and child-friendly design of residential courtyards, streets and public spaces can also be a way to compensate for overcrowding and address inequalities.

With a child impact assessment we can investigate, analyze and describe how children and young people are affected by a planned action or a specific decision. This includes bringing in the thoughts and perspectives of the children concerned. In addition to identifying the best interests of the child, the child impact assessment provides suggestions for compensatory measures and practical solutions. A child impact assessment can be carried out, for example, when drawing up a master plan or detailed plan, as well as when planning new buildings or communications.