Make urban environments even more magical for little ones with these big?and small?ideas Cities are magical places to raise children. Zooming trains turn everyday journeys into wide-eyed adventures. Urban plazas echo with shrieks from delighted toddlers darting into splash pads. From bustling streets to hidden pockets of nature, around every corner is something new, just waiting to be discovered.
But big-city living with small humans can be hard. Urban environments are not always designed with kids in mind, and parents need all the help they can get. We?ve tapped designers, policy experts, and our in-house parents for their tips on how urban families can flourish, as well as various ways to advocate for a more kid-friendly city.
Because cities built to support families are better for everyone.
1. Plant a tree. Trees are essential for improving public health, which is why some cities are planting a tree for every child born. The effort is more than symbolic?52 percent of the U.S. population under 15 is breathing toxic air, and trees can help prevent chronic respiratory illnesses like childhood asthma.
2. Help open a toy library. Since the 1930s, toy libraries have distributed free toys on a rotating basis to families. At programs like the Northwest Denver Toy Library in Colorado, kids can play with toys and then check out three items for three weeks at a time using their library card. There are over 400 toy libraries in the U.S.; ask your local libra...