Urban Spaces for the Next Generation
The youth seems to have the least say in what is happening in the world today but they will have to live with the consequences of everything we decide on doing today for the environment that they live in. Cities must be planned and designed with its youngest residents in mind because there are now a large number of children growing up in urban areas. The creation of livable cities for kids must include the presence of nature in their space where they can be encouraged to love being around animals, plants, flowers and to develop a deep appreciation for life outdoors. There is a correlation between nature and the wellbeing of children, apparently, and we should be able to design our cities that encourage the interaction of children with their environment for their overall wellbeing.
A recent study has shown that children raised in greener areas have a 55% less chance of experiencing severe and overwhelming mental and emotional problems later in life.
Understandably so, for almost eight months now, the strong message for the whole country has been “stay safe and stay home.” Exercise outside has been allowed in Metro Manila but strictly for adults only. It is still not a hundred percent safe outside, and to cut down the risk of COVID-19 infection, the safest choice is to keep our children inside. Getting kids outdoors though is good for their overall health. And when the pandemic is over, they will surely benefit from being in public spaces for play and learning. By having safe parks, urban plazas, green zones, play streets, and sidewalks where kids can safely walk or ride their bicycles, parents may be more likely to let their children play outside as they comfortably watch over them nearby.
Public spaces can provide the opportunity to foster social connections among children with unique personalities and from different cultures and backgrounds.
Remember the Filipino street games we used to play outdoors? Patintero, taguan, tumbang preso, and agawan base were not just fun. These games also gave us a really good physical and mental workout! And the most effective public spaces should not only be aesthetically perfect natural spaces where everything is just put on display. It should be able to accommodate its visitors, and children especially, that they could be able to enjoy its benefits through recreation and play.
In order to teach our children to love and respect the environment, we must give them the opportunity to explore and learn from it. Incorporating more green spaces, creating safe, sociable streets and neighborhoods, and making cities more sustainable and livable will do that. As we all wait until it is safe for cities to reopen, we must prepare urban environments to meet the new human needs and future health challenges. And if we get this right, the next generation will truly be better off than we are and they will certainly be grateful towards those who secured a better environment for them to live in.