Building a child-friendly city starts with listening to the voices of children
"Whether it is possible to add more facilities for children over 10 years old to play, and whether it can provide us with the opportunity to experience professional labor..." According to the "Zhongshan Daily" report, on the morning of May 30, the "Children's Children's Working Committee" hosted by the Zhongshan City Women and Children Working Committee, Guangdong Looking at the city from a high perspective" will be held at the Zhongshan Children's Council in 2022. 14 children's representatives from 5 schools put forward their suggestions face-to-face to the heads of several government departments.
my country is a country with a large population and a large population of children. According to data from the Seventh Census, there are about 298 million children aged 0 to 17 in my country.
Children are the future of the country and the hope of the nation. Letting them grow up better is the common wish of the whole society.
At present, my country's urbanization rate has exceeded 60%, and cities have become an important external environment for the growth and development of more and more children.
In the process of urbanization, urban construction and development in some places will often take more consideration into the activity patterns and usage needs of the adult population, while the supply of services, facilities and space planning for children is relatively lacking.
In a city built with reinforced concrete, it is the care and warmth that a city should have to build a child-friendly city from the perspective of children who "see the city from a height of one meter".
Last year, the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Construction of Child-Friendly Cities" researched and formulated by the National Development and Reform Commission and 22 departments proposed that by 2025, 100 pilot projects for the construction of child-friendly cities will be launched nationwide.
So, how to build a child-friendly city?
In other words, how to ensure that urban construction is more in line with the needs of children?
The key point in this is that, no matter large, medium or small cities or communities, the needs of children should be taken into account in public affairs, and their voices should be listened to and their ideas understood through corresponding institutional design and arrangements.
The construction of a child-friendly city is not simply to add childcare facilities and playgrounds in the city, but to systematically design the city, examine the development and governance of the city from the perspective of children, stimulate children's sense of ownership, cultivate children's self-reliance, Spirit of exploration and sense of innovation.
In this sense, the above-mentioned children's council is an important form of giving children the right to participate in urban decision-making - 14 children's representatives discussed children's medical environment, children's park facilities, children's food and stationery safety, mother and baby rooms in public places, children's Expressing opinions on issues such as how to improve labor capacity, which reflects children's ideas and needs for a better social service system, a safer living environment and other behavioral activities.
Relevant parties listen carefully to understand the concerns of children, and actively respond to their demands, which will undoubtedly promote the creation of a child-friendly city.
Children are not only participants in urban life, but also builders of future cities.
Participating in the process of urban decision-making can also stimulate children's potential and brighten their future.
In this process, children's ability to participate, discover, express, practice and participate in social and public affairs will be further improved; the future of the city is also expected to become better in their suggestions and practical actions.
Some children said that in the process of completing the survey with the division of labor and cooperation with their classmates, they "not only gained friendship, but also improved their teamwork ability".
Looking at the city from a height of one meter is the attention and care that children should receive, as well as the vision and responsibility that the city should have.
It is hoped that more cities will take active actions and hold children's councils and other similar activities so that more children's voices and suggestions can be heard, respected and accepted. The dream of a child-friendly city becomes reality sooner and more widely.