This paper takes up for discussion safety in children'smaturation environments,
especially public spaces for playing and learning. Although
any person under the age of 20 can be defined as a child, this paper primarily
addresses children through elementary school age.1 Public spaces
for playing include parks, urban plazas, green zones, play streets, and
sidewalks; public spaces for learning include kindergartens, elementary
schools, nursery schools, libraries,museums, and gymnasiums. The issue
of safety includes both natural disasters and man-made disasters (fires,
bullying, crime, violence, accidents, etc.). Looking at the issue of safety
across a variety of domains, this paper considers criteria for children's
maturation environments2 that foster children's healthy growth.