Negotiating Children’s Outdoor Spatial Freedom: Portraits of Three Parisian Families

GEOGRAPHIES OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES: GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES, L. Holt, ed., Routledge, 2009

20 Pages Posted: 6 Oct 2009

See all articles by Olga N. Nikitina-Den Besten

Olga N. Nikitina-Den Besten

University of Northampton - Centre for Children and Youth

Date Written: October 6, 2009

Abstract

Numerous studies in Children’s Geographies show that children in Western countries have less and less independent spatial mobility. There is also a growing public concern that not many children walk to school or spend time outside on their own. Using a multi-method approach including interviews, child- and parent guided walks in the area, photos taken by children and children’s maps, the research takes a closer look at how decisions on children’s spatial freedom are made in three Parisian families. In one family, the 'mother hen' has an uncompromising strategy to protect her boys from dangers of the street by all means. Another mother’s way of relating to her urban area is to let her young daughters enjoy it to the maximum, in terms of cultural, sports and walking opportunities. The third family’s control of their children’s unsupervised access to the street is measured - and consciously progressively diminishing. The chapter explores the reasons for such differences in parental strategies. It also elaborates on the means that parents use to make sure they do not worry when their children are outside, including teaming up with a sibling or a friend, sight and voice accessibility, regular checks, and children’s 'self-censorship'.

Keywords: unsupervized outdoor play/mobility, parental control, democratization of family relationships, family-based research, multi-method approach, biographical study, spatial boundaries, subjective territory, street competence/literacy, ‘safety strategies’

Suggested Citation

Nikitina-Den Besten, Olga N., Negotiating Children’s Outdoor Spatial Freedom: Portraits of Three Parisian Families (October 6, 2009). GEOGRAPHIES OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES: GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES, L. Holt, ed., Routledge, 2009 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1483865

Olga N. Nikitina-Den Besten (Contact Author)

University of Northampton - Centre for Children and Youth ( email )

United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.linkedin.com/in/olgadenbesten

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