Co-designing neighbourhoods for children and young people’s play: learning from experience in a UNICEF child-friendly city.

Khan, Matluba ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5546-1870, Smith, Tom ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7221-1868, Harris, Neil ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4087-1698, Nekeb, Shoruk and Yaratgan, Dilara 2025. Co-designing neighbourhoods for children and young people’s play: learning from experience in a UNICEF child-friendly city. Children, Youth and Environments Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Research highlights significant gaps in the active engagement of children and young people (CYP) in placemaking activities at the neighbourhood scale. This includes challenges in designing methods for engaging CYP in the planning, design and governance of places. Our study critically addresses these gaps through neighbourhood-scale work with CYP in a recently- designated ‘UNICEF child-friendly city’. Activities include co-assessing neighbourhoods and co-designing plans to enhance play, playful activities, and play spaces. Case studies of two communities in Cardiff, Wales, evaluate the promotion of play for children within a city aspiring to attain ‘child-friendly’ status, in a national context where children’s play is legislated. Thematic analysis of qualitative data working with around 400 CYP reveals the limitations of designated playgrounds and how children embrace a broader definition of play, seeking social, adventurous, inclusive and accessible play opportunities across their neighbourhoods. It also highlights children’s unequal access to diverse play opportunities in different areas, calling for a place-based approach to understanding children’s play experiences and address of the unequal micro-geographies of play.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Geography and Planning (GEOPL)
Publisher:	University of Cincinnati
ISSN:	1546-2250
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 June 2025
Date of Acceptance:	23 June 2025
Last Modified:	14 Jul 2025 12:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/179392

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