How Planners Are Creating Clumsy Kids

The University of NSW's City Future's research director, Bill Randolph's 'Children in the Compact City: Fairfield as a Suburban Case Study' examined the restrictions high-density living places on children. Professor Randolph unearthed a range of behaviours that early-childhood specialists say impair social and motor skill development, ranging from parents feeding young children to keep them quiet, to not having enough space for young children to crawl, walk or play."

"'The net result was young children entering preschool or even school with poorly developed social and motor skills,' the report found."

"Many parents considered balconies and parks unsafe and proximity to busy roads often meant playing in the street was not allowed, he found. Ball games were often restricted, as were noisy or messy games."