How Children Can Help Make Communities Feel Safer

Children who are visibly involved in their communities make people feel safer and help create stronger neighbourhoods, according to research. A study by the Economic and Social Research Council found, contrary to public opinion, children play a key role in developing strong community spirit and safe neighbourhoods.

The more children interact with other children the more parents are connected within the area. A three-year research programme focusing on two inner-city areas, a suburb, a new town and city investigated the social networks of children and how they affected their parents’ perception of the area.

They found that children had more freedom if their parents were involved with other parents in the community and the wider the children’s social networks the safer the parents felt about living and raising a family.

Around 600 children and 80 parents were involved in the research which found parents struggling with a dilemma of protecting their children and wanting to allow them freedom to be streetwise. Professor Irene Brugel and Dr Susie Weller, from the ESRC, produced the research paper Children’s Place in the Development of Neighbourhood Social Capital.

Dr Weller said: “On the one hand, children are frequently portrayed as vulnerable, incompetent, and in need of protection from the possible dangers of town and city streets. On the other, those allowed to go out and meet up in public areas are often regarded as intimidating and antisocial.

“However, many parents suggested they had established more networks and friendships in the local area through their children than by any other means. This contact came via ante-natal classes, the nursery and the primary school, or through their children’s friends’ families. Parents acknowledged their children had much less freedom to roam or explore the neighbourhood than they enjoyed. They saw this as a problem, and would generally like the youngsters to be out and about more.”

In Glasgow yesterday parents agreed that children who were active socially were positive for both families and communities. Cherry Sneltzer, daughter Debbie Gardner and granddaughter Alexis Gardner were enjoying the sunshine in Kelvingrove Park. Ms Sneltzer, from Woodlands, said: “If there were more facilities locally then I would feel better about the area. There is nowhere for parents and children to go so we have to come here to take Alexis to the play park.

“Parents and children involved together would build up social structures. I have lived there 26 years and over the years there is less of a community feeling. Apart from the nursery there’s nowhere for parents to meet others with the children.”

Karen McKay, from Maryhill, was out with daughters Chloe, 11 and Devin, four, and son Josh, seven. She said: “I have met lots of parents through the kids’ clubs like swimming, dancing and karate. It definitely makes the area better if the children are busy and are doing things with their friends. I only let them go to organised events or out with me, they are not allowed to hang around on their own. That would not be so good.”

However, the study found that when parents allowed their children to roam other parents drew from their confidence allowing them in turn to give their children more freedom.

Children outside London were less likely to be allowed to travel unaccompanied.