Running Free: Children's Independent Mobility

For generations, children enjoyed independent mobility. It was common to see kids walking to school, playing outdoors, developing friendships, and exploring their neighbourhoods without direct parental supervision. But there has been a dramatic decline in children’s independent mobility. Canada is now facing a physical inactivity crisis among children and youth. In a country where the benefits of walking to school far outweigh the dangers of walking to school, how can we reverse this trend?

This documentary from the School of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia examines what’s driving the decline in children’s independent mobility, and possible solutions.

Written by Donna Gall and Gordon Koch
Producer: Guy Faulkner, PhD
Director/Producer: Donna Gall
Cinematographer/Editor: Gordon Koch
Story Consultants: Guy Faulkner, PhD and Negin Riazi, PhD candidate

[germainewalsh]

Thank you so much for creating this video. I am a Council Road Safety Officer in Wales (UK), completing my MA Ed Additional Learning Needs and a parent. This has helped my dissertation promoting Independent Travel Training for those students driven to school with additional learning needs. Council taxis/minibuses is the fastest growing cost to education in the UK and in terms of health and the environment, not sustainable. Your video has highlighted that rather than being taxied a whole school career to school being beneficial to these learners, in many ways it disables them and increases the incidence of their ALN and anxiety. Wost of all, when free transport stops aged 16, they lack the skills to find unemployment and are far more likely to experience unemployment and social isolation. Thanks!

[albaesposito]

Excellent! This documentary has touched on so many issues in relation to building and fostering independence in young children, as well as the promotion of a healthy and more physical lifestyle in children! Bravi, to all who had a hand in producing this video and it's related research! I will most definitely be sharing this video!

[AndreOutlaw]

I was walking myself to school since kindergarten. I never received a ride to school from my parents. Ever. At age 10 I was able to use public transportation on my own, I could read the maps and figure out how to get from point A to point B on my own.
I was able to determine pretty quickly when something didn't seem right. I could determine when something seemed dangerous. I could also think myself out of a situation when something went wrong (late bus, broken down bus, train stopped working, etc). This helped me a lot in my adult life.
Then there's the wife. Never left alone in her childhood. She has a hard time adapting to almost anything and will go into a panic if something changes. That's if she will attempt anything that she's not familiar with at all.


The discussion that we're having now is when to let our child walk to school on her own. The school is one straight shot from our house about 3 minutes of driving and perhaps 5 blocks away. Almost every child in the neighborhood walks to school, all taking the same route. I say by age 10 she should be fine (perhaps even age 8 depending if she appears to be comfortable with it). The wife goes into a panic just thinking about it.

[saskiaverhulst]

In the Netherlands this is very normal. The schools are always in the neighborhood unless you choose a school that is further. There are always multiple schools to choose from though. The kids walk to school or ride their bikes to school. We do have cycling paths everywhere, so it’s quite safe.
Kids always play around on the streets and in the playgrounds. All very normal here. Greetings from the Netherlands

[idontcare]

Amazing! This documentary after almost three decades of research on CIM (Children's Independent Mobility) is a boost to researchers and academicians as well as strong advocates likes us. I absolutely enjoyed this one and would recommend this to be played in as much number of schools and community programs as possible worldwide. Kudos for the efforts to the team !

[janetsmith]

Thank you so much for this work and for freely sharing the video! We are using it in our Child Development course this week with our EA students.

[hyahnomoser]

Thanks for compiling this great community story of neighbourhood play. I hope it inspires much more local play for children. It really is the missing ingredient of the healthy childhood all parents want for their little ones. Well done. Hyahno Moser Program Manager for Nature Play QLD

[alexsmith-ixhm]

Wonderful work - what a great team. I really enjoyed watching the documentary and highly recommend it for parents and caregivers.