This study discusses why children should have an active role in shaping urban spaces. Although urban planning is often associated with planners, architects, engineers, and adult decision-makers, the study argues that children experience the city differently and should be included in planning processes. Children are more dependent on their surrounding environment for mobility, learning, play, and growth, making their perspective essential for creating inclusive and sustainable cities.
The study highlights that child participation can make cities safer, more inclusive, and more responsive to the needs of all residents. In Indonesia, initiatives such as Kabupaten/Kota Layak Anak and Forum Anak already provide platforms for children's voices in public policy. These initiatives reflect the spirit of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, especially the right of children to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect them.
Beyond tokenism
The study also explains that participation should not stop at tokenism. Referring to participation frameworks, it distinguishes between shallow participation, where children are only informed or symbolically included, and deeper participation, where children share power, collaborate, or even lead initiatives. Meaningful participation requires access to age-appropriate information, time to form opinions, communication training, and serious consideration of children's input in decision-making.
“Meaningful participation requires access to age-appropriate information, time to form opinions, communication training, and serious consideration of children's input in decision-making.”
Lessons from Barcelona and Surakarta
Several examples are presented, including Barcelona's “Plan for Play” and TARUMA in Surakarta, where children and residents helped design public spaces through participatory methods such as Minecraft. The study concludes that strengthening children's participation through Forum Anak, updated regulations, flexible frameworks, and capacity-building is crucial for creating cities that are not only planned for children, but also planned with children.