Safety concerns and family commitments for children who want greater independence to venture out unchaperoned

In a VicHealth funded study, researchers from La Trobe University’s Judith Lumley Centre surveyed 132 children aged 8 to 15, as well as 12 parents, about experiences and views on kids travelling and playing independently in public places.

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Lead researcher Sharinne Crawford said the study highlighted a balancing act for parents, who juggled family routines, the need to give children independence and ensure they were safe.

In Bendigo Jared and Ashleigh Farrow’s eight-year-old son recently asked if he could begin walking to school on his own – something researchers found was a key goal for children and a significant milestone both for them and their parents.

“We feel (our son) is too young to be out by himself at this stage but we’ve in got around that conversation by deferring it until his younger brother (who is six-years-of-age) is old enough that they could walk together,” Mr Farrow said.

“I personally believe we should have another conversation about it when (our oldest) is 10-years-old.”

Mr Farrow said the decision was shaped partly by the neighbourhood they lived in, which he felt was a little rougher than some. Media stories about kidnappings and dangerous traffic also played a part.

Mr Farrow added that sometimes the decision came down to individual children. Parents had to consider how a child might handle themselves if something went wrong and they were on their own.

Dr Crawford said parents often cited strangers, “weirdos” and traffic-related risks when deciding whether their child would go out unsupervised.

Children were as concerned about stranger danger as parents, through they were less concerned about traffic.

“While some did mention “hoons” and a fear of being run over, they were also worried about being bullied by older children, getting lost or being attacked by dogs, magpies or kangaroos,” Dr Crawford said.

“A striking feature of the study was the extent to which children wanted and loved being independent. They talked about the thrill of risk taking and testing their physical abilities.”

The researchers found that daily routines, work and family commitments influenced children’s independence. Knowing people in the local neighbourhood who could support children if they needed help was also important.