In the Middle Ages, children were seen as younger adults, people with less ability to work, but not completely unfit. So, they were hired for everyday and little work, which depicts the art of that time with the right brushstroke. The notion of childhood only germinated in post-Renaissance European society, consolidating itself in the 17th century and was even reflected in the division of the population on the basis of age. This change has led to a completely new life in animals, where a very unique face of the world was recognized: studies show a perception of the environment among the younger generation that is free from limitations that nurture the eyes of most adults and This childish way of looking at such gears has come to be regarded as something of value in cities around the world, even for the formulation of public policy. This does not mean that children are taking power or leaving their childish state – which would not be desirable – but, yes, it is being heard by adults.
Among them, a new UNICEF survey conducted in 21 countries in Brazil found that 58% of people support the idea that the group’s first-line opinion should not be underestimated by political leaders, as it adds a different angle. Familiar introduction. Europe has been at the forefront of implementing this with the experience of children by forming councils in countries like Portugal, Spain and Germany. Through them, their conjecture reaches the authorities and rulers. The second most populous Portuguese city, Porto City Hall, has been running a program for two years where children between the ages of 6 and 12 write in notebooks what they think of the place where they live and how they imagine it to be. Good. The answers are being analyzed very meticulously so that a solution can be drawn from there to inspire change. “They suggest a city with more squares and parks and reinforce the need for a pedestrian-friendly, more welcoming urban relocation,” said sociologist Carlos Mota.
Early practice of citizenship, scholars say, helps to develop essential skills, such as working as a team, inventing ideas and putting them into practice, leading and understanding the sense of community. For five years, the town of Jundia in S সাo Paulo has followed this path, with a children’s committee set up with students between the ages of 9 and 11 who come to draw lots. They take the mission more seriously than most adults. From their creative minds came a whirlwind of proposals already put into practice: roads were closed to cars and turned into playgrounds, some school activities began to take place outside, and municipal schools themselves broke down walls to reduce distance between students. And nature – a strong demand from them. The last of the Children’s Council was to lead a pro-vaccination campaign during the epidemic, which resulted in a video being widely viewed and liked. “We did it because we saw that a lot of people don’t want to be vaccinated,” explained Victor Prado, an 11-year-old. The council’s influence on him and his colleagues is reflected in other cases. “My son was shy and today he insists on expressing his views on all matters,” said his mother, Lisian Prado.
A modern idea has spread among urban planners that adapting a city to its small inhabitants makes it more enjoyable for all. They prefer generous sidewalks and spaces to be social, away from Horn’s Symphony. “Concrete examples show that when boys and girls are listened to and their presence in the city is taken into account, the general quality of life increases,” said Francesco Tonucci, author of the book VEJA. City of children. In Rosario, Argentina, representatives of the children’s ward meet once a year at the City Hall initiative, urging them to always reflect on how to improve their neighborhood. Led by the demand for more space for play and the abundance of greenery, for example, leads to the planting of a huge tree so that the children take part in it themselves, a virtuous cycle that benefits both them and the environment in which they are immersed.
Involving the super-young population, even in a timely manner, lays the groundwork for developing something basic for their lives: a sense of responsibility that does not stop at home. In Freiburg, a vibrant university town in the Black Forest region of Germany, the Neighborhood Detectives program was successfully created, with children walking down the street with a magnifying glass that could be improved. “It’s a way of realizing from an early age that they can change the reality around them,” said Claudia Vidigal, head of the Brazilian branch of the Dutch foundation Bernard van Leer, which focuses specifically on projects that encourage children to think about the city. Planning, focusing on the decades ahead. After all, the future of the planet is in the hands of these little ones.
Published May 4, 2022 in VEJA, No. 2787