Child-friendly spaces please
We appreciate special privileges for us elderly in Cebu City. Aside from discounts (for medicines, grocery items, transport, hotel and restaurant), free days to watch movies and free first 3-hourparking, we are grateful for special lanes, seats, and spaces provided by senior-friendly establishments. Thank you for remembering our needs and for making us feel cared for!
We are also happy that Mayor Tommy Osme?a provides library space for our students. We join the students and those who value education in thanking the mayor and his staff for this invaluable essential for a livable city. We look forward to more vital initiatives related to learning and education that will encourage, benefit, and inspire all.Padayon, Mayor Tom!
Is it possible that after this, the city library can have child-friendly spaces as well?The sooner our children are nurtured to enjoy and appreciate learning, the city and our country can expect more informed and intelligent citizens. The earlier our children realize they are cared for, the sooner they are provided with spaces to explore their curiosity about the world, the better headstartfor them to develop into more knowledgeable and considerate individuals.
But won't children create much noise and activities that disturb other library users? There are existing models of libraries throughout the world allowing and accommodating infants and children. Volunteer architects, child educators, child-focused NGOs, among others, can collaborate with Mayor Tom to expand the use of the library to allow children as well. Or instead of child-friendly spaces in the city library, other venues can be considered?
Parents, especially single parents, will be happy to bring their children to educational and free child-friendly spaces. Sadly, there are limited public spaces available for children to learn and enjoy. Many of these public spaces are also not free! If children want to enjoy in commercial areas, for example, parents have to pay P100 for 30-minute use of any game or child-related area.
Beyond the present public library, we hope government officials of the province, cities and towns will request private establishments to have free spaces and educational resources-for all sectors and age groups, including PWDs-and give incentives for sharing their corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Many Japanese department stores have inexpensive, child-friendly spaces where adult-supervised infants can crawl in and move around. Bookstores have spaces where children can read books, view videos, or listen to music. Toy stores or sections allow children a space to learn simple crafts, or ride bikes or cars, for free!
Volunteer groups here can be organized to implement free child-learning sessions weekly in commercial establishments in the city, including learning child-friendly and child-appropriate activities.
Providing free child-friendly spaces and sessions in public and private establishments will have win-win results for all. Families will go more often to these public/private areas to learn, rather than spend. In turn, establishments that share their CSR will benefit having more regular customers weekly.
Providing free weekly educational/learning spaces and opportunities will benefit the city and country later when more intelligent citizens take over and continue to care for the next generations.
Can Mayor Osmeña and other local government officials lead and provide accessible child-friendly learning/educational spaces soon? Thank you sincerely in advance!
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