Mayer Hillman

Children's rights and adults' wrongs

Today’s children are more fortunate in many respects than children of previous generations. Witness the rising numbers who now have access to a bedroom with the characteristics of a mini-‘bed-sit’; television—for many, one of their own—with its wide range of entertainment; computer games for mental recreation; a mobile phone to maintain contact with family and friends at all times and in all places; and a family car or two, providing safe and effortless parent-chauffeured means both of daily travel and for weekend and holiday visits to ever more distant destinations and activities. Many are also able to attend the school their parents consider to be the best available for them rather than the one closest to them.

A comparison study of children's independent mobility in England and Australia

We compared independent mobility (freedom to move around the neighbourhood – or similar – without adult accompaniment) among English and Australian schoolchildren. Parents reported mobility licences granted to their children (e.g. allowing them to cross main roads alone) and accompaniment on local trips. Children reported travel mode to school. We examined associations between mobility licences and independent school journeys, and accompaniment on local trips. Among 10–12-year-olds, English children had more licences than Australian children. Mobility licences were directly associated with independent school journeys among primary but not among secondary schoolchildren who travelled further; and inversely associated with parental accompaniment to other destinations. Influences on parental restrictions should be examined to promote childrens independent mobility.

More daylight, better health: Why we shouldn't be putting the clocks back this weekend

Lack of exercise is a major public health problem in the United Kingdom, contributing to the incidence of chronic illness. Adults are recommended to engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity daily and children at least an hour. However, surveys have shown a trend towards declining fitness, on the basis of which it has been predicted that more than half the population will be clinically obese by 2050. Health experts have proposed urgent action to remedy this situation, and the government now aims to get far more of the inactive population walking or gardening regularly or, preferably, taking up more vigorous physical activity, such as sports, aerobics, or cycling (especially as a means of travel). Although most people are aware of the benefits—a lessened risk of coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and some cancers—routine physical activity features in few people’s everyday lives. Only a small proportion of adults are motivated to undertake it throughout the year, and the school curriculum allocates insufficient time for it. …