ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the full scope of childhood-environment issues and focuses on the principles and policies that should guide action, rather than the actions themselves. Access and diversity emerge as the most important themes in childhood-environment policy. Playground stereotypes need to be expanded into a vision of children interacting among themselves, with family and community, in every place lived in and used. By increasing the diversity of urban ecosystems through indigenous landscaping children will benefit, especially if small-scale wildlife is recognised as an important play-and-learning resource. The creation of aquatic environments such as ponds and marshes is a particularly important aspect of urban wildlife management. Adventure playgrounds have been promoted for years as an effective solution to the recreational needs of urban youth. Under guidance from trained leaders, children build their own community and in so-doing build a powerful educational base. Urban policy must help children gain developmental benefits from their families, their communities and their physical surroundings.
