The DLR Institute of Transport Research has published the methodological guide 'Mit Kindern lebenswerte Straßenräume erproben' (Testing liveable streetscapes with children) to better integrate children's perspectives and needs into urban and traffic redesign processes.
It addresses the challenges of the underrepresentation of children in redesign processes and presents concrete methods and practical examples for greater inclusion.
The guide is part of the SensorKids project and is funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation.
Child-orientated design of street spaces through participatory methods
Traditionally, children are rarely involved in the planning of our transport systems or urban infrastructure. Their views on safety, mobility and quality of stay are often only considered indirectly (e.g. via parent surveys). At the same time, children's independent mobility is steadily declining, which is attributed to a lack of child-friendly infrastructure and car-centred traffic planning, among other things. Children are particularly affected by environmental pollution such as air pollution and noise, e.g. when travelling to school and in residential areas. At the same time, there is often a lack of suitable participation methods for children in transport-related planning and research processes, i.e. there are too few tried and tested methods for involving children in a meaningful and age-appropriate way.
The SensorKids project tested and further developed innovative, participatory methods of this kind. For example, with the senseBox for mobile measurement of environmental pollution in the school environment, with the use of mental maps, or through visualisations with AI. Children were actively involved as co-researchers in the project and in the preparation of the guidelines. By involving them in redesign processes and surveying their perceptions, wishes and needs, a guideline was created that is intended to make the design of street spaces more child-friendly. The researchers came to the following key conclusions:
1. children's perspective is essential - but not automatically visible
In order to design child-friendly mobility, children need to be directly involved - they experience road space differently to adults and recognise problems that adults overlook. During the research project, children marked dangerous or unpleasant places on the way to school on maps, for example, which were not recognised as a problem in official traffic planning documents. Their comments led to new insights into subjective insecurities (e.g. narrow pavements, confusing crossings) and places in a neighbourhood that are important for children (e.g. the ice cream shop or animals in the neighbourhood).
„Photovoice" method
In the DLR project "SensorKids", children were able to participate in research using participatory methods. In the "Photovoice" method, for example, they used a Polaroid camera to record what they particularly like or dislike about their school environment.
2. co-research works - when methods are age-appropriate and creative
Children are capable research partners when they work with suitable tools - e.g. painting, AI image design or simple environmental measuring devices. With AI-generated images, children were able to visualise how they would like their street to look - with trees, play areas and fewer cars. The AI helped to make their ideas tangible and presentable.
With AI images and the coloured pencil
Not everyone has to be able to draw realistically. With the help of AI and coloured pencils, the desired image can be mapped onto the existing pictures. More green, less grey - that's what most children would like to see in a redesign.
3. environmental and traffic influences are perceptible and measurable for children
Children recognise environmental pollution very directly - and with simple tools such as the senseBox, they can also collect data themselves to make the effect of measures (e.g. traffic calming) visible. Children carried out fine dust measurements along two routes in the neighbourhood - one with a lot of traffic, one near a green area - and compared the results. This promoted environmental awareness and technical expertise.
SensorKids On Tour With the senseBox
During the days of action for the SensorKids project, children acted as co-researchers in the Graefekiez area. They conducted numerous measurements, e.g. of noise or particulate matter pollution.
4. the process changes: Children experience self-efficacy and belonging
Actively helping to shape the street space strengthens the feeling of participation - children feel that they are taken seriously and recognise that they can initiate change. Children actively participated in the construction of raised beds and seating furniture for a "neighbourhood terrace" in front of the daycare centre. Using "their" furniture after the project fostered pride and a sense of connection with the neighbourhood.
Parking Spaces Becoming Neighborhood Terraces
Some of the parking bays on Böckhstraße have been converted into so-called Kiez terraces. Wooden structures with integrated benches, planters, and other elements were set up. As part of the SensorKids project, children assess how the redesign has impacted the area and contribute their own perspective.
Credit:
Sandra Iwasieczko, 2024
The SensorKids guide draws attention to existing challenges in the inclusion of children's perspectives in urban reorganisation processes and presents a comprehensive methodological set of tools to address them. Children were taken seriously, involved and empowered within this process - and thus made valuable contributions to the development of child-friendly, sustainable mobility. In addition, the researchers were able to establish that children particularly want elements that also benefit adults: more urban greenery, urban nature (including space for animals in the city) and water areas.
