Blog

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

How can we take care of our children in a city?

Published February 27, 2018
HOW CAN WE TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN IN A CITY? - aUPA - Urban95 Challenge

Child rearing is one of the most difficult but loving and fulfilling tasks in the world: feeding, cleaning, playing, stimulating, educating, carrying, healing when they are sick, and the list… Read more

Supporting parents to keep their children’s weight healthy: An interview with Linda Leijdekker

Published February 15, 2018
Parents+ Convening Amsterdam - Bernard van Leer Foundation

Late in 2017, we gathered experts from 17 countries in Amsterdam to explore best practices in coaching parents on child development, part of our Parents+ programme, which bundles parent support… Read more

Oasis Game in Brazil sheds light on children’s vulnerable situation

Published February 14, 2018
Oasis Game in Brazil sheds light on children’s vulnerable situation - Blog - Urban95 Challenge

“We want to take care of the toy library, we need adults to trust us, everywhere we go there is an adult talking about what we need to do. To… Read more

Growing up in the city: Putting children first creates cities for all

Published February 5, 2018

A child-friendly city is a city for everyone, young and old. This is because a place that works for children needs to be walkable, safe, green, and rich in opportunities… Read more

Nurturing care: the role of the education sector

Published January 22, 2018
Photo: Oded Antman / Bernard van Leer Foundation

A new year brings predictions. Here is mine: in 2018 the momentum around early childhood development will continue to build. No surprise, given the growing evidence about the importance of… Read more

Building Better Play: Five Ways London Playgrounds Are Getting It Right

Published January 11, 2018
Building Better Play: Five Ways London Playgrounds Are Getting It Right

A few years ago, my family was asked to relocate to London for six months for my husband’s job. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but it also meant leaving behind… Read more

CityLab Paris 2017 - Placing young children on the stage of global urban innovation

Published December 5, 2017
CityLab Paris 2017 - Placing young children on the stage of global urban innovation - Bernard van Leer Foundation

The mayors of Bogotá, Austin, Quito and Tulsa were among high-profile city leaders who participated in BvLF’s Urban95 breakfast at CityLab Paris last month. The event as a whole drew… Read more

The risk of not supporting risks

Published November 28, 2017
The risk of not supporting risks - Bernard van Leer Foundation

‘Children learn to love where they are, by playing in it’, said Adrian Voce in his opening presentation at the Child in the City Conference this month in London. In… Read more

Watch, Listen, Ask, Imagine, Create

Published November 24, 2017

Under the theme of “reconquering public space”, Placemaking Latinoamérica was held from November 6th to 10th in Valparaíso, as part of the XX Chilean Architecture Biennale, an international meeting of… Read more

Early Childhood Development and the Future of Latin America

Published November 23, 2017
Ariel Fiszbein - Inter-American Dialogue

The early childhood development agenda just received a major boost in Latin America. On November 15 and 16, the First Latin American Forum on Early Childhood Development took place in… Read more