Children’s Perspectives on Their Urban Environment and Their Appropriation of Public Spaces in Mexico City

Authors

  • Tuline Gülgönen
  • Yolanda Corona

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7721/chilyoutenvi.25.2.0208

Keywords:

children, children's studies, child-friendly city, Mexico City

Abstract

This paper presents theinformation and knowledge that 84 school children aged 7 to 9 of the Coyoacán borough of Mexico City have regarding their everyday urban environment. Using techniques such as drawing, model making, photographs and story writing, we explored children’s neighborhood experiences including parks, streets, and their vision of an ideal city. Key findings showthat the urban context as well as the children’s particular social context, including the internalization of their parents’ fears about lack of safety, are some of the main elements that influence the way in which children experience the city and depict what an ideal city would be for them. Children lack independent mobility and spend little time in public spaces, and have a poor knowledge of their near surroundings and of the city at large. Most of the irrepresentations of the ideal city have to do with green spaces and natural environments.

Published

2022-11-07