The playground and the pub: About the merging of age-specific urban domains into family spaces

In this essay I will argue that children and cities have an inconvenient relationship. Cities are often referred to as the urban jungle, while children are supposed to thrive in the rural idyll. Dominant discourses define city children as out of place. Nevertheless, many children live in cities and, precisely because of their contested position, a strong tradition has developed to build age-specific children’s spaces: the playground. These playgrounds were supposed to deliver safety for the vulnerable city child, however today they are not only populated by children but also – and increasingly so – by adults who accompany their offspring. This children’s space has transformed into a family (intergenerational) place. The merging of age-specific spaces is also visible with spaces that used to be for adults only. In big European cities, parents with babies and toddlers populate pubs, bars and restaurants. In this chapter I will describe this merging of traditionally age-specific spaces and give some explanations related to current urban and social processes. Empirical examples come from recent studies carried out in Amsterdam, the Netherlands