A New Concept of What a Playground Should Strive to be.

While Copenhagen has a reputation for its short, grey winter days, it holds a beautiful secret: the summer in the city. All winter long, the families prepare for their sunny, warm, long summer days. Within this preparation, people focus on the best water hub of the city, called Islands Brygge. This area is located on the canal within the city, a perfect getaway from the busy streets. 

Islands Brygge is filled with plenty to do: filled with both land areas and harbor baths. The space takes up both sides of the harbor, giving space for all the locals to enjoy the sun. On one side of the harbor, there are little baths for splashing and swimming for small children, along with a bath with a big, wood, man-made cliff that all ages can jump off of. On the other side, there is a giant wooden slide, along with a big pier that everyone can use to soak up the sun. 

Personally, I have never been on the side with the slide, but have observed it while boating in the canal. On this side, there is music playing throughout the pier. Additionally, I observed children going down the wooden slide in many ways, including on tin trash lids, towels, and even bikes. Not only were there children enjoying this, but I also observed adults sunbathing, swimming, and sliding down the slide. This proves again that Copenhagen focuses on including every member in each family. 

I had the pleasure of visiting the side with the multiple baths and cliff jumping area. I noticed that there were children of all ages were able to enjoy this side. The first thing I noticed was that there seemed to be designated areas for specific age groups. One area was filled with small children and a shallow pool so that they could swim and splash without fear. In another area, there was the cliff jumping platform. 

This platform was also designed with the intent to satisfy all ages. The platform had stairs going up the backside, allowing for three spots to be used as platforms to jump off of. The first was around two meters above the water, then about five, then about ten. This was designed so that each kid could jump where they feel is challenging. 

I found it incredible that the design was intended to create courage within each child, instead of simply having the high platform, creating fear for a large portion of the children. Through having multiple platforms, every child was able to feel comfortable, but also courageous. At first, I thought that I would only see young children on the first, middle aged on the second, and older children and adults on the top. 

However, after a few minutes of observation, I noticed that there were also adults testing the waters by jumping off the small jump, or teaching their small children it was okay and safe. Additionally, there were brave small children sailing off of the biggest platform- even faster than I could muster the courage!

It was so thrilling to see how excited each child was to be in this environment, and how happy each parent was to have an afternoon in the sun. It was also a good reminder that city planners and architects care about people of all ages, creating places that everyone can access and enjoy.  

Author: Lizzy Gardner

Photo Credit: Photo Taken by Kathleen Shepherd, 2019.

If every person who has lived in Copenhagen, visited, or grew up in the city had to answer what the best place to bring kids to within city is, the answer would overwhelmingly be Tivoli. 

Tivoli is the second oldest (still in operation) amusement park in the world, opening in the 1840’s. This amusement park is also known for being the place of inspiration for Walt Disney’s Disneyland. Tivoli is located right near Copenhagen Central Station, so the access to the park is incredible. The park decorates for every season, filled with pumpkins and warm colors for autumn, fake snow and Christmas trees for winter, and vibrant colors in the summer. With this in mind, I could only imagine how happy the children would be to be in Tivoli. I also noticed that with an adult pass to Tivoli, a small child under 2 can come into the park, free of charge. This adds to the amazing accessibility of the park- with it’s noticeable attempt to keep Tivoli affordable for all families. 

My first time in Tivoli, I was amazed about how inclusive it was for every age. The park itself is simple to navigate, allowing children to roam about without worry or confusion. Additionally, there are rides that vary from short, slow rides for toddlers, to high-intensity fast rides for older children.

The park also offers live shows for children, where all ages can understand the jokes, and babies can enjoy looking at the silly characters. Within these shows is audience participation, so that every kid feels included. The biggest surprise to me was the area specifically designated for small children. While the whole park was designed so every child is happy, there is an area specifically designed to entertain small children and toddlers. I personally have never gone into the area, only observed from the main walkway. The area seems to be full of musical “instruments” that allows the children to run around and make noise, just as children love to do. This area also shows bright, vibrant colors and smiling characters, seeming very inviting and happy for the little children. 

Personally, one of my favorite things about visiting Tivoli is seeing how happy all of the children are while in the park. At 20 years old, I am able to be filled with joy in the park, and I can also see that every 2 year old, 8 year old, and 13 year old is also filled with joy. Additionally, even though the park is set up for children to enjoy, the parents also seem to be enjoying themselves while at Tivoli. Throughout the entire park, one can feel the joy radiating from every attendee. 

Each time I go to Tivoli, I look forward to seeing the happy, dancing children. I am impressed by the park and worker’s ability to create such an atmosphere. It is amazing to see such a large child friendly, exciting space in the heart of a big city. I know that when I was a child, or if I were a parent, I would adore the accessibility of Tivoli. Within a city that does not have much room for backyards, many can treat Tivoli as their giant playground. 

Tivoli has become one of my favorite spots within Copenhagen, and I can imagine the answer is the same for almost every child, or adult, who has visited the park.

Author: Lizzy Gardner

Photos: Own personal photos.

To most, the metro stations and train cars in Copenhagen are mundane, only being used as a means of transportation, to go from A to B, or to say hellos and goodbyes. However, to the children, it is a place where their imagination can run free. Through small details, the design of the metro train cars are inclusive for everyone: walking, in a wheelchair, for strollers, for bikes, those using canes, and children. These details include elevators, smooth transitions from platforms to trains, open spaces in the train for wheelchairs, bikes, or strollers, and stickers for the children. 

Upon arrival to Copenhagen, the metro was one of the first things I needed to understand, for it was my way to school and downtown. When asking around about advice, a popular answer I received was, “Oh, it’s so easy. If the kids can do it, and they love to do it, so can you.” Ever since hearing this, children on the metro seems to be all that I can notice. Whether these kids are commuting home from school by themselves, or all in safety vests on the way to a preschool field trip, or playing at the front of the train, I have learned that kids in Copenhagen love the metro. Growing up, I have never had to take public transportation, let alone to get to school by myself. It was a massive shock to me that children love the metro, and frequently use the system without supervision. 

One of the key reasons I have noticed children love the metro is the attention the architect put for children. Although a simple design, each metro system has a “control center” for children to play with at the front of the train car. This is a sticker that looks like the controls for functions such as stop, go, open/close doors, and the speed. The children are able to “press” the buttons, allowing them to believe they are controlling the train car. 

The first time I noticed these stickers was during a quiet ride home, where no children were present. I was able to appreciate the sticker, knowing its purpose immediately, even though it was not labeled. After noticing, I made a note to look for children playing at the front, curious if the children actually enjoyed this addition to the metro. Sure enough, the next day, a swarm of children were playing at the front! Although I did not know what they were saying, language and imagination goes without needing translation. 

Overall, even though this is a mundane way of transportation that does not need to be specifically “child-friendly”, I was impressed that the city makes an effort to promote imagination and play throughout the entire city. 

Author: Lizzy Gardner

Work Cited: Photo of Girl: https://twitter.com/SidewalkStarts/status/1151579006250172420; accessed 17 November 2019.

A Street Market with Something for the Whole Family.

Reffen is an outdoor food market located on the outskirts of Copenhagen. Built-in a previously industrial location, many of the food shops are made of large shipping containers and painted in bold lively colors. One might not think of a food market at first for a family-friendly environment, but Reffen is sure to break this misconception.

While strolling around, one of the few food stores featuring a pop-up tarp cover to keep people warm was found playing children’s songs; Many of which were Halloween oriented( as Halloween was only several days away). Children and Adults danced along and their joy was quite contagious. Talking to a local shop owner I learned that activities such as this are very common. Visting in the colder weather, many people gravitate towards the covered warmed areas- but in the summer kids and their families can be found laughing and enjoying the food all area Reffen’s property. Many kids will be found playing with other kids, and sometimes different food places will organize activities.

Food selections are also large- which can be a great asset for families with picky children. Parents can indulge in the food choice of their preference without having to downgrade so that their child can be bought something they will eat

There are a wide variety of picnic tables that are suitable for families to eat at. Children can be messy eaters and often times need the tablespace to eat without making a mess( and even then some kids still manage to make quite a mess). Sitting on just a bench or chair alone may make it difficult for parents/guardians to help their child eat (since young kids often lack the coordination or balance to hold multiple items) while also trying to eat themselves. The benches are also (based on my visual assessment) the appropriate height for children to sit at without the need for a booster seat. My one concern would be that there did not appear to be any tables that would be wheelchair friendly in the sense of that someone in a wheelchair would be able to comfortably have their legs under the table so that they can reach their food with ease.

The walkways around the food shops were quite wide, and provided enough space for mobility assisting devices and strollers to comfortably share the pathways. This can be quite an important factor for families deciding if they should or should not visit a space- as navigating crowded areas with assistive devices can be extremely stressful and uncomfortable. My one concern however regarding mobility is that reffen is a somewhat far walk from the nearest public transit stop, and for elder persons who use partial assistive devices. This could be things such as a cane or walker. Navigating to the facility alone might be quite difficult for this population of people.

Not only are the eating facilities family-friendly, but there is also open space for children to ride their bikes and play closer to the water. It features ramps that allow kids to try maneuver their bikes into different tricks. Families can make a whole afternoon out of visiting, instead of just coming to eat a meal. This can also be useful because if children are getting fussy eating-parents can redirect them to play in the open designated area.

Overall, as far as dining locations go, Reffen is a great choice for families to make use of when it’s open!

Author: Caitlyn Marshall

Work Cited: 1st image- Reffen – Copenhagen Street Food. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2019, from https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/planning/reffen-copenhagen-street-food-gdk1101719.

Up and down the long walking street of Strøget, several cheerful Christmas markets can be found posted in the weeks approaching Christmas. During the opening parade and events on November 16th(2019), Kids and Adults alike were visibly mesmerized by all of the twinkling lights and Christmas magic so present in the air. Santa and Hans Christian Andersen made an appearance greeting visitors- and visibly delighting the children who encountered them.

One of the first things that I think made the Christmas market a family-friendly space was that its all built on solid leveled ground, meaning that it is wheelchair and stroller accessible just like the rest of Strøget. The pathways between the pop-up shops were wide enough that you could easily navigate these transportation devices between them with plenty of room for other pedestrians.

With the many different shop selections, there is something suited for the whole family. Food I would argue makes up the largest quantity of what shops are selling. However, there were also many artisan shops selling things such as toys, jewelry, and, and handmade crafts. You could visibly see the excitement of some kids as they saw a shop that sparked their interest. The son from my visiting host family( a program run through DIS) was awed by a metal robotic hippo that he saw. Seeing his excitement, his mom and bonus dad devised a plan to get him the toy without him noticing- a Christmas present I am sure he will be filled with Joy opening on Christmas day. Its a perfect location to find a unique Christmas present that your kid will love.

Notably, there were also child-oriented activities in the opening ceremony. Gift bags with small candies, water, soda, a coloring book, and small trinkets were handed out to the children who came to greet Santa who was posted by his ‘transportation vehicle’. There were also sing-along activities going on to keep children engaged. Activities such as this can make a big difference in children’s experiences of the event. Receiving small gifts- even when they are not worth much can light up a child’s time. It also can help them to focus less on the big events that are going on around them and instead focus on the new objects they have been given. This is very helpful if a child is becoming overwhelmed by all that is going on.

A choir also led a activity of singing Christmas songs in the same area. Singing activities are useful in child-friendly spaces because it helps children engage with what’s going on through familiar tunes and limericks that they might recite in their home setting- a fun and relaxing way for kids to socialize and engage.

There are a few things that I witnessed that might prevent this place from being entirely child and elderly-friendly. First that the crowded spaces make it difficult for parents or respective guardians to push strollers and keep an eye on their little ones. This can cause quite a lot of stress- both for the adults and the children. The crowded space also would make it difficult for the elderly population who need assistive devices to get around. Another thing I noted was that of the few places set up so that people could eat around them, all of them were without seats and were set at the height proper for an adult. This could make it difficult for families who need to feed their child a meal, or for elderly persons who need to properly rest their legs by sitting down.

Still, overall, I think that place is a great way for families to experience the holiday cheer. Visiting during the week and when events are happening may be best for families who may become overwhelmed by the crowds.

Author: Caitlyn Marshall

Work Cited: First image- Adventures, P. | T. to. (2018, November 15). 5 Atmospheric Christmas Markets in Copenhagen, Denmark. Retrieved from https://tickettoadventures.wordpress.com/2016/11/26/5-atmospheric-christmas-markets-in-copenhagen/.