Cities for the Well-being of Children

We’ve been focusing a lot on the success of our city lately.  Kamloopsians went to the voting polls this week hoping those we elected would help our city accomplish great things.  But how do you measure the success of a city?

When it comes to success, most cities like to think big: big development, big economic opportunity, and big progress.

But according to Suzanne Crowhurst Lennard, cities would do well to think small for a change. Crowhurst Lennard is the author of  “The Forgotten Child: Cities for the Well-being of Children.” She is also a member of the International Making Cities Livable Council. She’ll be in Kamloops on Monday, November 28 to encourage us to view the success of our city through the eyes of our children.

Cities for the Well-being of Children

We’ve been focusing a lot on the success of our city lately.  Kamloopsians went to the voting polls this week hoping those we elected would help our city accomplish great things.  But how do you measure the success of a city?

When it comes to success, most cities like to think big: big development, big economic opportunity, and big progress.

But according to Suzanne Crowhurst Lennard, cities would do well to think small for a change. Crowhurst Lennard is the author of  “The Forgotten Child: Cities for the Well-being of Children.” She is also a member of the International Making Cities Livable Council. She’ll be in Kamloops on Monday, November 28 to encourage us to view the success of our city through the eyes of our children.

Many of the world’s children grow up in cities. Researchers like Crowhurst Lennard are discovering how the physical features of those cities – its architecture, streets and meeting places – affect children’s development.

What they’re finding is that cities throughout North America are becoming less and less welcoming to children and youth. In fact, many city centres are viewed as solely the domain of adults.

Most North American cities are designed to support business and administrative interests. For example, wide traffic arteries efficiently move working adults to and from work but make it difficult and dangerous for children to get around by themselves.

More and more, children are becoming isolated from the common adult world and the natural learning experiences it brings. Today’s cities give children less freedom to explore their neighbourhood and town on their own.  It means less contact with a variety of adults in different settings. As a result, children are not gaining the personal experiences and observations so important to healthy social and emotional development.

Instead, says Crowhurst Lennard, children are experiencing “life on the screen,” through television and electronic computer games. And that’s taking a serious toll on their emotional and social well being.  For example, drug and alcohol use and aggressive behaviours are caused, in part, by excluding children and youth from the life of cities.

The public realm teaches children a lot. When the city’s physical features help connect the worlds of children and adults it creates an enriched social environment for everyone.  While engaging in their own business and social interests, adults in well functioning city neighbourhoods also serve as monitors and models for young people.

In communities that value childhood, adults enjoy spending time with kids. Festivals, farmers markets, street performers and places where people of all ages can play, eat and interact with one another are signs of a healthy community. Mixed neighbourhoods, inviting architecture, green spaces, public transportation and pedestrian networks all help to create a healthy environment where children and families can thrive.

You are invited to join me and others to hear Suzanne Crowhurst Lennard speak on this topic at the TRU Grand Hall, Monday, November 28 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Please register before November 23 by calling Make Children First at 554-3134, Local 301.