Blog

Read the selected insights, thoughts and experiences of our staff and partners.

Helping families in Lima to reclaim public spaces

Published May 22, 2019

After a recent workshop, the Bernard van Leer Foundation’s Urban95 programme is making progress in sparking the transformation of public spaces across Lima, helping to reclaim them for young children… Read more

Introducing and sustaining learning landscapes in urban environments

Published May 21, 2019

Early childhood is a critical stage for healthy brain development. While good public policy and public health have important roles to play in improving outcomes, architect Itai Palti, director of… Read more

How an international expert can inject inspiration: Patricia Kuhl visits Israel

Published May 6, 2019

It’s one thing to read about new developments in brain science and what they mean for how we should support parents. It’s something else entirely to hear insights in person… Read more

A good city for all

Published April 12, 2019

Spatial mismatch, gender inequality, and sexual harassment are the main barriers to women’s mobility in Brazilian cities. And when women's access to the city is limited, it impacts directly on… Read more

Looking at DTLA through children’s and caregivers’ eyes: an Urban95 opportunity

Published February 15, 2019
Looking at DTLA through children’s and caregivers’ eyes: an Urban95 opportunity - blog - Tracy McMillan

On its surface, our meeting location of DTLA seemed like an odd choice: a Southern California neighbourhood known more for its office buildings and car culture than its livability. Our… Read more

Covering the Syrian Refugee Crisis – highlights from the Dart journalism training workshop in Amman

Published February 14, 2019

UNHCR tells us that more than 5.6 million people have fled Syria since the onset of the civil war in 2011, seeking safety in neighbouring countries and beyond. An estimated… Read more

Reflections on the Urban95 Expert Assembly

Published February 4, 2019

Last autumn the Bernard van Leer Foundation gathered a group of experts in the fields of early childhood development, mobility, transportation safety, public space, urban form, recreation, and air quality… Read more

The Effects of Transportation on Early Childhood Development

Published January 30, 2019

If you were in Los Angeles one morning last September, you might have noticed small groups of adults making their way downtown on foot while pushing empty strollers or carrying… Read more

The Need to Double Down

Published November 15, 2018
Early learning and nurturing care for children displaced by conflict and persecution - Early Childhood Matters 2017

Read Michael Feigelson and Elvira Thissen's contribution to 'Finding, Funding, and Scaling' winter supplement of the Stanford Social Innovation Review, writing about The MacArthur Foundation’s 100&Change process and its effect on… Read more

Walking the city at 95cm high

Published November 2, 2018

During the week of October 15th, the city of Bogotá was host to the urban walkability event Walk21. It included a series of panels and workshops on how to encourage… Read more