Childhood increasingly impacted by stifled independence

On World Children’s Day, Intelligent Health brings urgent focus to the state of childhood independence. Children’s health, wellbeing and development are being severely impacted by lack of action to address the barriers to independent mobility and outdoor play. 

Childhood independence, marked by milestones like walking to school alone or playing outside unsupervised, is a crucial aspect of growing up. These experiences foster resilience, confidence, and problem-solving skills, preparing children for the complexities of adulthood. Yet, recent data from Beat the Street, a nationwide community engagement programme, reveals significant shifts in how children experience independence today.  

Developed by Intelligent Health, Beat the Street has engaged over 1.9 million participants working with councils and national partners. It has been designed to enhance connections between people and their environment. For children it helps build independence, confidence and movement.

Founded on a strong belief that health begins where people live, work and play, Intelligent Health aims to build active and connected communities through evidence-based programmes. 

Recent findings show a dramatic decline in children’s independent mobility over the last five decades. In 1971, 86% of primary school children in England travelled home alone; by 2013, this had dropped to 25%. Intelligent Health conducted insight into independence with Dr Helen Dodd in order to explore the relationship between children’s independence, resilience and wellbeing. Through Beat the Street, Intelligent Health has collected 7125 responses from children. Yet, Beat the Street findings highlight that only 17.7% of children aged 11 and under now walk or cycle home without adult supervision.  

Read more here.