WESTERN COUNTRIES HAVE NEGLECTED THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITION FROM RURAL TO URBAN LIVING. IN CONTRAST TO THE RURAL CHILD, THE URBAN CHILD EXPERIENCES RESTRICTED MOVEMENT, REDUCED CONTACT WITH ADULTS, SEPARATION FROM ONE OR BOTH PARENTS DURING THE WORK DAY, CONSUMPTION OF GOODS WHILE SELDOM OBSERVING THEIR PRODUCTION, LESS EMPHASIS ON MUSCULAR DEVELOPMENT, A MORE STRAINED EMOTIONAL ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH INDIVIDUAL EMOTIONS ARE CONCENTRATED ON FEWER PEOPLE, AND INCREASED EMPHASIS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MENTAL ABILITIES. SUGGESTIONS FOR OVERCOMING SOME OF THE DISADVANTAGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT IN RAPIDLY CHANGING URBAN SOCIETIES INCLUDE--(1) PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION OF AREAS FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF CHILDREN AT PLAY, (2) CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES LARGE ENOUGH FOR FAMILY ACTIVITIES, (3) ARRANGING WORKING HOURS TO ALLOW FREE TIME FOR DAILY ACTIVITIES WITH THE CHILDREN, (4) ESTABLISHMENT OF NURSERY SCHOOLS AND KINDERGARTENS ALLOWING FREE PLAY, (5) PRODUCTION OF IMAGINATIVE, DURABLE TOYS, AND (6) VARIED CONTACTS WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS OUTSIDE THE CHILD'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY. (DA)