This is a powerful document and the argument a no-brainer if we want good urban journeys and good urban spaces - and if we want to take our responsibilities to children seriously.

As well as practitioners, urban, children’s and transport geographers could all learn a lot.

NSPCC calls for walkable, low-traffic and car-free streets to safeguard children Leading UK children's charity releases toolkit and calls on built environment to enshrine child safeguarding into the property development cycle

NSPCC calls for walkable, low-traffic & car-free streets to safeguard children

“walkable neighbourhoods, with low-traffic or car-free streets, strong visual connections between homes and shared spaces and micro-scale features such as small play pockets, to support children’s everyday independence”

Do car-free zones hurt disabled people? We asked experts. City planners and advocates are seeing "accessibility used as a political football."

“…disabled people are actually less likely to drive than nondisabled people and more likely to get around by walking and rolling and taking transit. Car-heavy cities are also disproportionately dangerous for disabled folks…”— @nondriver.bsky.social

Don’t use accessibility “as a political football.”

When we talk about outdoor play for children, many people picture swings or slides.

But what about 'natural play'? Splashing in puddles & making dens can nurture children's creativity, resilience & build connection to nature.

This webinar explores why it matters:

www.tcpa.org.uk/resources/pl...

There's still time to register for our free webinar:
'Plants, puddles & possibility: the importance of natural play for children'

Discover what we mean by 'natural play' & explore the evidence on why it matters for children.

📆 Monday 26 January
🕰️11.30am - 1pm

🖇️ www.tcpa.org.uk/event/plants...

From muddy knees to makeshift dens, everyday playful encounters with nature are important in childhood.

Our free webinar on 26 January will explore why natural play matters for children, especially those living in dense, risk-averse & urban environments.

Agenda & registrations: shorturl.at/320yq

Written Statement: Side Road Zebra Crossings in Wales | GOV.WALES Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales

Holy moly - Welsh Government have approved side-road zebras! www.gov.wales/written-stat...

Children should have a right to play in the streets, alleys, pavements and car parks of their neighbourhoods Play isn’t just for playgrounds.

In the @uk.theconversation.com, I rehearse - in briefer form - my arguments _for_ play in grey space, arguing that it affords opportunities for play, connection and care that green space often can’t, and that it’s politically important to value play in these spaces.

This is appalling. It seems the parish council made a mistake, and some adults complained. And it's children and young people who lose out, with plans for a new play space pushed into next year at least.

It's the sound of children playing, FFS.

This summer, 40 Stockholm streets have gone car-free.

Deputy Mayor: “Change makes people nervous, and they don’t like when it feels forced. So, [we] frame these road closures like a fun little experiment that can go away if people don’t like them.”

Source: www.politico.eu/newsletter/g...

Was lovely chatting with you Laurie!! Love the article ❤️

Skate park, bike parking, bus station, Saturday evening in Hiroshima #japan #urbanlandscape

UK children face barriers to outdoor play due to poor planning, says study ‘Fragmented’ policies leading councils to prioritise approval of housebuilding over parks, researchers find

“Compared to their parents’ generation, the amount of time today’s children play outside has declined by 50%. But this downward trend doesn’t have to be inevitable. Thoughtful planning, which listens to the voices of children and young people, can produce… environments where children can develop”

How Can We Make Our Cities More Child-Friendly? U.K.-based researchers say that we're failing children when it comes to urban design, ignoring their fundamental right to play in our cities.

😎 I was very chuffed to be interviewed by @lauriewinkless.bsky.social for her @forbes.com feature

‘How Can We Make Our Cities More Child-Friendly?’

#HelenWoolley and I reflect on our respective research on planning & designing cities that take children’s rights seriously

@sheffielduni.bsky.social

How Can We Make Our Cities More Child-Friendly? UK-based researchers say that we're failing children when it comes to urban design, ignoring their fundamental right to play in our cities.

My latest article for @forbes.com is all about the importance of incorporating play in cities (spoiler alert: playgrounds aren't enough!) 👩‍🔬⚛️🧪 www.forbes.com/sites/laurie...

How Can We Make Our Cities More Child-Friendly? U.K.-based researchers say that we're failing children when it comes to urban design, ignoring their fundamental right to play in our cities.

Resharing my latest @forbes.com article - it's about play in cities, and how we're not doing enough to meet the needs of children. It features interviews with two experts in outdoor play from @sheffielduni.bsky.social ⚛️👩‍🔬🧪
www.forbes.com/sites/laurie...

Yesterday we launched the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Play (@appgonplay.bsky.social) 🎉

We're already 40 MPs and Peers strong, working together to:
✅ Push for a National Play Strategy
✅ Champion play sufficiency law
✅ Put play back at the heart of childhood

Fabulous to see the launch of the APPG on Play @appgonplay.bsky.social - very hopeful that play will start be taken as seriously as it demands, with the hope of a new national play strategy and play sufficiency legislation.

Thanks so much for sharing my article Zoe 👏

“Places that allow for children’s play can create dynamic neighbourhoods, intergenerational encounters, and meaningful participation in urban spaces – if only we let it happen.” @playingout.bsky.social #playstreets are a great way to make this happen.

How to give children the freedom to play all across the city – not just in playgrounds Play should be promoted in cities to bolster children’s right to play anywhere.

Play should be promoted in cities to bolster children’s right to play anywhere.

How to give children the freedom to play all across the city – not just in playgrounds Play should be promoted in cities to bolster children’s right to play anywhere.

‘How to give children the freedom to #play across the city - not just in playgrounds’

My article in @uk.theconversation.com

#Play creates dynamic neighbourhoods, intergenerational encounters, & meaningful participation in #urbanspaces – if only we let it happen

theconversation.com/how-to-give-...

Children have as much right to their streets as drivers. There is no legal basis for them being shoed off streets. And I have no doubt that cars - moving and parked - cause a nuisance for children.

This is extraordinarily depressing from Manchester City Council.

@playingout.bsky.social

Twelve of England’s regional mayors back plan to create ‘national active travel network’ Exclusive: Unprecedented move to focus initially on helping children to walk, cycle or scoot to school safely

Great work from Active Travel England pulling together these pledges from all (but one) of the regional mayors. The focus on routes to school (which are generally locally extensive and dense) is a good way of building popular support, and putting children first.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

For full text - https://misc.pagesuite.com/pdfdownload/baee12cb-58e4-427b-9f7a-146a848a1df9.pdf

For full text - https://misc.pagesuite.com/pdfdownload/baee12cb-58e4-427b-9f7a-146a848a1df9.pdf

Relatedly, if you’re on your way to Active City York today, or just enjoying a morning coffee, you can read about another failed attempt at creating safer streets for children - 50 years ago - in my article for Highways Magazine.

Thank you Wendy 👏!!

Thanks so much Alison and for the great session in Newcastle!! I found your paper with @wendyrussell.bsky.social super helpful!! Such a good perspective and one this article hopefully adds to.

Thanks so much Sally! And thanks to you and Alison for a brilliant session at RGS Newcastle! Was really helpful in developing the paper!! Hope it’s of use!!

Big thanks to @alisonstenning.bsky.social @salawatson.bsky.social for their helpful comments and insights in developing this paper - greatly appreciated!!

However, the research also revealed the #politics #children and their #play are exposed to when #playing occurs outside formal settings e.g. playgrounds

Ultimately, challenging children’s #spatialjustice in the longer term