Derya talks to Merve Kara-Kaşka from BBC News on the topic of "Can children play outside in Turkey?" 

In Turkey, most children live in urban areas, but their opportunities to play outside are limited due to a lack of green spaces, safety concerns, traffic, and parental fears. Studies show that a significant percentage of children, especially girls, are not physically active enough, increasing obesity risks. Urban planning often overlooks children, resulting in standardized playgrounds that fail to encourage creativity and exploration. Derya İyikul, an expert in playground design, describes traditional fenced-in playgrounds as a “planning mistake” and stresses the need for diverse, engaging play areas. Experts emphasize that outdoor play is essential for physical and cognitive development, social skills, and long-term health. Efforts like redesigning playgrounds and closing streets for playtime aim to address these issues, but broader urban reforms are needed.