Children's independent spatial mobility in the urban public realm

O'Brien, Margaret, Jones, Deborah, Sloan, David and Rustin, Michael (2000) Children's independent spatial mobility in the urban public realm. Childhood: A Global Journal of Child Research, 7 (3). pp. 257-277. ISSN 0907-5682

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Abstract

This article examines children's spatial mobility in urban settings. Through data from a study of children living in contrasting urban environments, London and a lower-density new town, the article focuses on how children move around in the public realm. The data show that there are significant variations in how contemporary children use their public spaces. Children's freedom to move around their neighbourhood was greatest in the new town. Girls and minority ethnic children were more restricted in their use of urban space. Comparison with previous research suggests a decrease in independent use of public space for 10/11-year-old English children since the 1970s. It is argued that future debate about children's place in the city should move away from `the unitary public child'. Lack of attention to the different ways children use their cities will hinder advances in social policies designed to enhance participation for all children.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Social Work and Psychology (former - to 2012) Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Social Work
Depositing User:	Katherine Humphries
Date Deposited:	07 Jan 2011 09:58
Last Modified:	06 Jun 2023 14:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/18882
DOI:	10.1177/0907568200007003002

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