Fostering independence in children for a healthier future

Empowering children through freedom to roam: The vitality of independent mobility. Source: Human Environments Analysis Laboratory

This paper explores the relationship between parents’ sense of belonging and their children’s independent mobility. We found that parental satisfaction with their living environment can be influenced by their sense of belonging, ultimately creating a community with more independent children.

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Target audience

City planners, Urban designers and Public health authorities plus their practitioners

The problem

Various factors determine the ability of children to roam independently. Reviewing previous studies, we found past research has mainly focused on the impact of the physical environment on children’s independent mobility. However, giving attention to how social issues and individuals’ perceptions affect a child’s independent mobility is essential.

What we did and why

To evaluate the role of parents’ sense of belonging as social capital in children’s independent mobility, we assessed their correlation considering parents’ neighborhood satisfaction as a mediator.

Our study’s contribution

We evaluated the direct and indirect effects of parents’ sense of belonging and children’s independent mobility license. The results indicated:
• Sense of belonging did not have a direct impact on children’s independent mobility license.
• Sense of belonging could indirectly affect children’s independent mobility license by affecting parents’ perceptions regarding their living environment.
• Parents’ age and sex and their length of residency affected their sense of belonging.
• Children’s sex and age affected children’s independent mobility license.We found a positive correlation between parents’ sense of belonging and neighborhood satisfaction, leading to increased children’s independent mobility license. In this regard, policymakers should take specific actions:
• Creating public spaces that are welcoming and encourage social interaction
• Taking into account how parents perceive their neighborhoods when implementing policies
• Considering residents’ social and cultural norms in the planning process

Impacts for city policy and practice

We found a positive correlation between parents’ sense of belonging and neighborhood satisfaction, leading to increased children’s independent mobility license. In this regard, policymakers should take specific actions:
• Creating public spaces that are welcoming and encourage social interaction
• Taking into account how parents perceive their neighborhoods when implementing policies
• Considering residents’ social and cultural norms in the planning process

Further information

Outdoorplay Canada: for case studies

CLIMB (Children’s independent mobility): for supportive actions

Full research article:

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