Children and young people’s views and experiences influence environmental planning – a toolkit has been developed to support participation
Tuusula’s ‘Child-Friendly Municipality’ initiative promotes opportunities for children and young people to have a say in the planning of their local environment. The participation toolkit, developed by the Growth and Environment Division, provides experts with tools to ensure that the voices of children and young people are heard more clearly than ever before.
One of Tuusula’s objectives in making the municipality even more child-friendly is to compile a participation guide for children and young people that focuses specifically on urban planning perspectives. This material complements the participation toolkit shared by staff.
The environment is also of great importance to the youngest members of the family. Nurseries and schools, with their playgrounds, provide stimulation and opportunities for activity on weekdays, but also in the evenings and at weekends, whilst other leisure venues, such as playgrounds, green spaces and sports facilities, offer enjoyable moments spent with family and friends.
– By giving children and young people the opportunity to share their views and experiences, whilst taking their age and stage of development into account, we can create diverse and welcoming environments tailored precisely to their needs, explains Suvi Kaski, Development Manager for the Growth and Environment Division.
– When children and young people brainstorm, they also come up with new ideas that we as adults would never even think of, Kaski continues.
– Strengthening the participation of children and young people is a key part of the ‘Child-Friendly Municipality’ initiative. When children and young people are involved in developing a shared and pleasant environment, this also fosters a sense of responsibility and a desire to look after shared spaces, says Minna Vuolukka, Development Manager for the Culture and Leisure Division and the lead for the Child-Friendly Municipality initiative in Tuusula.
Practical guidelines on engaging children and young people
The newly launched engagement resources include an engagement pack for children and young people compiled by a service design student, as well as supporting materials such as ready-made survey and activity templates to help get started.
– The toolkit offers users practical guidance and methods for planning participation, from defining the target group and objectives right through to implementation and the processing of material generated during the participation process. The pack can be used both for planning workshops and for selecting a quick participation method, says Kaski, highlighting the flexibility of the material.
We would like to thank all the children and young people who have helped us put together the participation pack by taking part in surveys and workshops to test the methods!
Follow Tuusula’s journey towards a more child-friendly municipality on our website, which opens below!
Further information on urban planning engagement materials: Suvi Kaski, Development
Manager, Growth and Environment Division, suvi.kaski@tuusula.fi, 040 314 3503
Further information on the ‘Child-Friendly Municipality of Tuusula’ initiative:
Minna Vuolukka, Development Manager for the Education Division and Coordinator of the Tuusula Child-Friendly Municipality initiative, minna.vuolukka@tuusula.fi, 040 314 3411
This content has been translated using AI