The findings were made in a study carried out at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, as part of a broader international study on children’s independent mobility.
The report revealed that children don’t enjoy the same level of independence and mobility that their parents once did, with statistics showing that parents’ biggest fear in letting their children walk or cycle to school alone is danger on the roads.
While three out of five parents admitted to having made their own way to school when they were young, the results showed that three out of five children are now driven to school.
Meanwhile, children’s fears of travelling alone to school are on a completely different level to that of their parents, with fear of dogs and being abducted emerging as the biggest reasons behind their apprehension.
In the study, which compared levels of children’s independent mobility between 16 separate third-level institutions, Ireland ranked 12th, with Finland emerging as the country with the highest level of children’s independent mobility.
Alanna O’Beirne, co-author of the ‘Children’s Independent Mobility on the island of Ireland’ report, commented on the findings, saying that they highlight the need for a parental approach that gives a certain level of independence back to children.
“Parents can loosen the reins and give children more independence and mobility. Parents should be role models and cycle with their children or walk to school," she said.
While we can completely understand the apprehension over leaving the kids go to school on their own, with issues such as ‘stranger danger’ and road safety at play, this report certainly does raise some interesting points.
