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Municipal jurisdictions dedicated to early childhood development
Municipalities play an important role in the lives of families and the development of young children. While they may not have full control or influence over their citizens’ quality of life, they do have a range of powers at their fingertips that allow them to create favourable environments, including for young children and their families.
Under certain laws, municipalities can directly influence families’ quality of life in such areas as:
- Culture, recreation, community activities and parks
- Environment
- Land use planning and development
- Public safety
- Transportation
Municipalities have powers delegated to them under the laws enacted by the National Assembly of Québec:
- Municipal Powers Act
- Act respecting land use planning and development
- Cities and Towns Act
- Charters of cities in Québec
Some of the conditions that promote families’ quality of life
Measures that encourage young children’s development
The numerous concrete measures implemented by municipalities contribute to young children’s development, as illustrated in the tables below.
Culture, recreation, community activities and parks
WHEN A MUNICIPALITY...
supports community, cultural and sports activities
develops parks and green spaces
improves access to libraries, recreation centres, sports facilities
organizes events for families
through strategies such as:
- children’s theatre sessions, outdoor movie screenings, early music activities
- day camps for children aged 4 to 5
- motor skills activities, parent-child games, free play spaces, introduction to sports
- setting up play zones in parks for children aged 0 to 5
- space for community or collective gardens accessible for families
- maintenance of indoor and outdoor skating rinks, bicycle paths
- early reading program, book club, story-time sessions at the library
- a family festival, lifestyle challenge, neighbourhood party, winter carnival
IT CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO...
for exemple :
- improving young children’s access to positive and diversified educational experiences
- boosting children’s ability to socialize, communicate, engage in appropriate relationships with one another
- increasing opportunities to expend energy through medium- to high-intensity physical exercise activities
- children’s discovery of and familiarization with their environment
Environment
WHEN A MUNICIPALITY...
protects natural and agricultural environments
ensures the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and heat islands
works towards reining in urban sprawl
supports a smaller ecological footprint
through strategies such as:
- protecting and developing shorelines
- regulating the use of pesticides
- prohibiting the use of plastic bags
- reducing the number of paved surface areas
- developing green roofs
- promoting local agriculture
- developing the bicycle path network
- promoting active transportation
- encouraging the adoption of healthy consumer habits and the reduction of waste
- limiting various sources of noise (e.g. railway tracks, urban highways, heavy trucking, music)
IT CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO...
for exemple :
- decreased risks of :
- malformations during pregnancy
- stunted growth
- developing certain respiratory diseases
- improved sleep quality
- raising children’s attention span and ability to concentrate
Public safety
WHEN A MUNICIPALITY...
fosters the development of relationships between the police, firefighters and the public
develops the territory with due consideration of the realities and needs of each age group
through strategies such as :
- awareness-building visits of police officers and firefighters with young children in parks, during activities in the municipality (family festivals, Christmas party, neighbourhood party, etc.) and in daycare centres (safety rules, fire alarms)
- support of street and neighbourhood initiatives concerning free play (tolerated by the police, who enforce the by-laws, and by the urban planning department, which sets the by-laws)
- making the waiting times at red lights longer to give pedestrians more time to cross the road
- setting up a neighbourhood watch committee or a traffic committee
- a crime prevention project
- a bike patrol / promotion of awareness about safe active transportation
- speed limits on certain streets
IT CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO...
for exemple :
- enhancing young children’s knowledge about the world around them
- enhancing their knowledge of basic safety rules
Land use planning and development
WHEN A MUNICIPALITY...
promotes the social, economic and cultural life
creates and maintains a built environment that is harmonious, safe and favourable to settlement, health and economic activity
through strategies such as :
- a by-law that grants the right to play on the street
- access to a variety of affordable, clean and safe housing that meets the needs of families
- installation of child-friendly street furniture
- contributions to the creation of environments that promote healthy eating habits
- enhanced access to municipal facilities and their adaptation to the needs of families
- development and protection of recreational and natural spaces
- consulting the public about projects in the community
IT CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO...
for exemple :
- improving the quality of social relations
- increasing opportunities for children to explore safely
- reducing the health risks associated with poor housing conditions (cost, cleanliness, safety)
Avenues and strategies for action
Municipalities have various means at their disposal to act in these areas. These available avenues can be grouped into three main categories.
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