'Play streets' should become common place in Ireland to help get children outside.
That's according to Aaron Copeland, creative director of A Playful City.
The group is Ireland's first not-for-profit focused on creating more playful, engaging and inclusive cities with and for communities.
It wants to make safe environments where children can enjoy the streets in their neighbourhood.
Aaron told Newstalk Breakfast public spaces should be open to all.
"Playful cities are essentially cities that are looking to create healthier cities, greener cities, more intergenerational cities that invite the age groups... that are generally marginalised from public spaces, just by default because of their designs."
He says this would mean limiting cars in residential areas at certain times of the day.
"It would mean limiting access, it would mean treating public space as space that's available for everybody to use - considering that one in five people in Ireland are under-15.
"80% of those do not meet the physical activity requirements on a daily level.
"I think that's necessary to create an environment that is safe for young people and older people to be healthy outside their homes.
"We're not talking about motorways, we're not talking about main roads: we're talking about residential areas, where we expect to find children.
"But in fact what's happening is they're ending up spending more time than prisoners in maximum security prisons indoors, because of fears that parents have of the speed and volume of traffic".
'Small degree of independence'
Aaron says the onus has to be on the drivers, not the children.
"Play Streets asks adults to slow down and expect to find children outside - that's unfortunately not been the case for the last 20, 30 years.
"And people give out about children playing outdoors - about they're always on their phones, they're always on technology.
"It's probably the only place where they can achieve a small degree of independence and freedom in their play.
"They're expected to be brought everywhere by their parents as well."
But he believes the majority people would be behind such moves.
"I think most people would support the idea that children get outside and are living healthier lives.
"That... once they step outside their door they're not risking their lives.
"For the most part, I think almost everybody would support the idea that they would take responsibility - and not put it on to children to be seen and to be taking responsibility for their own safety.
"But the adults that are in control of the vehicles will actually take some responsibility for what it means to drive a car 50 km/h through a residential area".
