For years I have admired Tim Gills passion,work and research on play for many reason. I am sure I will for many years to come
As I’m writing up my PhD on co-design and play in an urban refugee community in Kenya. One clear theme is that parents, NGO leaders, community activists and children want or desire a designated play space. A playing field. A playing ground. #playground
Why? Because the infrastructure around them prevents children from safely playing outside. The streets, pavements, empty plots they play on often contain risks and dangers that cause their caters and parents to restrict thei #mobilty. As Tim clearly explains mobility is one of greatest inhibitors of children playing outdoors especially in an urban environment.
However in these situations, for now there is only so much planning can do. Even child friendly planning. The majority of the urban development is unplanned when viewed through a more western #eurocentric lens of planning policy. The government aren’t proving safe pavements, pathways, private businesses and even home owners are. Many home and estates have been built without adhering to planning policies. Why? They didn’t exist in time.
So what then…when urbanisation overtakes planning and governments capacity is either limited or arguably misplaced…
When a push for growth and modernity trumps children’s needs to play outside
💡
Empowered financially, citizens arise and create their own spaces for play, in the places where they can find safety and in this context, a playground.
A playground doesn’t need to contain a 🛝, although the community we worked with make one 😀It needs play materials and facilities that local people can see is somewhere for all children to play…safely. Created with materials that could be maintained locally
Child Friendly Planning is great! when planning is effective and enforcement is equitable.
#phdmusings
Sarah Sabry, PhD
#safety
Tim Gill talking here about the importance of *mobility* for children. If they can't get outside & move freely and independently around their neighbourhood, how can they be expected to be healthy, to play, to learn and to be active members of their community? The number one way Government could improve children's health and wellbeing is to make streets safer. Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Caregiver at Personal Driver
1moAre there jobs in Kenya???