ARTICLE INFO

Article Type

Original Research

Authors

Ziari   K. (*1)
Sarraf   M. (2)
Poorahmad   A. (1)
Farhoudi   R. (1)






(*1) Department of Urban Geography, Faculty of Geography, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
(2) Department of Behavioral Social Sciences, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Kish, Iran

Correspondence

Address: Floor 5, No 1, Faculty of Geography, Azin Alley, Vesal Street, Tehran, Iran. Postal Code:1417853933
Phone: +98 (21) 61113368
Fax: +98 (21) 61113368
zayyari@ut.ac.ir

Article History

Received:   November  16, 2020
Accepted:   January 14, 2021
ePublished:   June 16, 2021

ABSTRACT

Aims & Backgrounds Given the importance of the issue of children in the city and their living context, it is necessary to plan and design healthy and safe urban environments for this future generation. According to the recent studies, it is needed to clarify the local criteria and indicators of a child-friendly city with a focus on the improvement of the environment and providing a conceptual framework to evaluate main priorities. This study aimed to explain the optimal local structure of a child-friendly city to improve the quality of urban spaces and to provide the needed criteria and indicators for evaluating the child-friendly cities in urban spaces by considering the concept of recreation and entertainment in District 2 of Tehran.
Methodology The current research is analytical-descriptive and is considered as a development-applied evaluation in terms of its purpose. The data were collected through desk studies and a survey. According to the type of the problem and the purpose of this study, the urban area scale was proposed. Considering the extracted dimensions and indicators, a questionnaire was handed out in a group of 384 households randomly using a researcher-made method with 95% confidence. SPSS software was used for the statistical analysis. Some variables and the research framework were explained by elites and experts in this field using the Delphi method. Then, they were analyzed to determine the level of criteria for weighting and the relative importance of the effective components. Finally, using GIS maps and geographical explanation, the final indicators were classified into four groups using the method of zoning of urban blocks, structural measurement, and the average of the whole city by natural failure method in each index of urban blocks.
Findings The results show that there are child-unfriendly zones in the central, southern, and even northern parts of district 2 of Tehran that cover the main cores of activity.
Conclusion The urban fabric, access, land use, and relevant layers are influential in the friendliness of the city for children and affect their life quality on small scale.


CITATION LINKS

[1]Aalizadeh A, Fakhrayi M, Keyghobadi M (2013). A look at futures research methods: Introducing sixbi important and widely used techniques in futures research. Tehran: Ayande Pajouh Publisher. pp. 85-90. [Persian]
[2]Aarts M J, Jeurissen M, van Oers HA, SchuitbdIen A J, van de Goora L E (2011). Multi-sector policy action to create activity-friendly environments for children: A multiple case study. Journal of Health Policy. 101(1):11- 19.
[3]Bidarigh Mehr Z, Mohabbati Saf Serri Z (2016). Child-friendly city indicators. Proceedings of the 1st scientific research conference on civil engineering, architecture and sustainable environment. [Persian]
[4]Christensen PI, O’Brien MA (2002). Children in the City: Home, Neighbourhood and Community. London: Routledge Falmer. pp. 66-81.
[5]Dryksel, DA (2008). Creating better cities with children and adolescents, a guide to participation and collaborative research. Tavakoli M, Saeedi Rezvani N, translators. Tehran: Dibayeh Publisher. [Persian]
[6]Gill T (2019). Designing cities for outdoor play. Encyclopedia on early childhood development. 1-4.
[7]Gleeson B J, Woolcock G W (2007). Child Friendly Cities: Criticaly Exploring thr evidence base of a resurgent agenda. Proceedings of the State of Austrailian Cities Confrence 2007.
[8]Goldfeld Sh, Villanueva K, Tanton R, Katz I, Brinkman S, Giles-Corti B, Woolcock G (2019). Creating community indicators for early childhood development: challenges and innovations from the kids in community’s study. Cities & Health Journal. 3(1-2):68-77.
[9]Habibi E, Ezatian Sh, Mohaghegh Nasab E (2018). Lessons for children's participation in the process of designing a child-friendly urban space (Case study: Sade Lanjan City). Urban Studies Journal. 29:111-120. [Persian]
[10]Howard A (2006). What Constitutes Child Friendly Communities and how are they built? report prepared for the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), Perth.
[11]Imani B, YarMohammadi K, YarMohammadi K (2017). Survey of a child-friendly city from the perspective of children Case study: District one of Ardabil city. Journal of Geography and Environmental Studies. 6(21):7-22. [Persian]
[12]Kamelnia H, Haghir S (2009). Design patterns of green space in CFC. (Case study: Child friendly city of Bam). Baghe Nazar Journal. 12(6):77-88. [Persian]
[13]Karbalaei Hoseini Ghiasvand A, Soheily J (2013). Explore the features of a lovely city from a children's point of view Case study: District two of Qazvin municipality. Journal of Urban Studies. 9:59-69. [Persian]
[14]Kharazmi O A, Johari L, Kharazmi A A (2019). Assessing the child friendly city indicators in Mashhad metropolis. Journal of Urban Social Geography. 7(1):191-210. [Persian]
[15]Kiani A, Esmailzade Kuaki A (2012). Planning child-friendly city (CFC) from children’s perspective, Case study: Quchan. Baghe Nazar Journal. 9(20):51-62. [Persian]
[16]Manuchehri B, Alizadeh K (2013). Child-friendly city, a step towards a sustainable city of the future (Case study: Mashhad). Proceedings of the 1st national conference in search of the city of tomorrow Analysis of concepts and examples in the Islamic city of Iran. [Persian]
[17]Nordstrom M (2009). Children’s view on child friendly environments in different geographical, cultural and social neighbourhoods. Urban studies. 47(3): 514- 528.
[18]Qarabeyglu M (2012). The role of environmental effects on developing creativity in children. Manzar Journal. 4(19):86-91. [Persian]
[19]Rastegar A, Bunfantini B (2016). Child-friendly urban design guideline. Urban Management Journal. 44:65-90. [Persian]
[20]Riggio E (2002). Child friendly cities. Good governance in the best interests of the child. Journal of Environment and Urbanization. 14(2): 45-58.
[21]United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (2017). A world free from child poverty. A guide to the tasks to achieve the vision.
[22]Woolcock GE, Steele WE (2008). Child-friendly community indicators. A literature review. Urban Research Program.
[23]Zarei F, Ahani S, Salehi S (2014). Assessment of child-centered neighborhood in traditional and new fabric with emphasis on qualitative factors, case study: Sanandaj. Armanshahr Architecture and Urban Planning Journal. 21:223-236. [Persian]
[24]Norodahl K, Johannesson I A (2015). Children’s outdoor environment in icelandic educational policy. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research. 59(1):1-23.