This paper looks at two successful slum redevelopment projects under India's flagship urban renewal mission, which mandate citizen participation and inclusive planning to create planned equitable cities. It examines how children's concerns are addressed and children's well-being is affected in the best of projects. The two case studies represent different design and planning approaches to in-situ redevelopment: (1) replacing the slum with flats; and (2) selective infill houses. The paper, in discussing the planning and design process adopted by the two projects, seeks to answer the question: what can urban design learn from children's use and activities in the urban space of slums to provide qualitatively superior local areas, and from children's perceptions of slum upgrading and redevelopment?