Decreasing Daily Contact of Children with Local Public Realm in Urban Areas

Strategic Insights -

As cities continue to expand and evolve, they have become increasingly hostile environments for children, leading to a decrease in their daily contact with the local public realm. A recent study conducted in Santiago, Chile, investigated the impact of physical and social environments on children's mobility, revealing that the physical features of public spaces play a significant role in influencing and endangering their movement. The research, supported by ANID/CONICYT and CEDEUS, concluded that the social qualities of public spaces are also linked to environments that are becoming increasingly hostile for children.

Key Takeaways:

  • The daily contact of children with their local public realm is decreasing over time in urban areas, as cities become more hostile for children.
  • The physical configuration of public spaces can raise anxieties and increase the perception of risk and insecurity on the part of children and their families.
  • The social environment of public spaces can also be a significant factor in influencing children's mobility, with environments becoming more hostile for children.
  • The study found that physical features of public spaces, such as landmarks and opportunities for activity, play a crucial role in children's revealed or suppressed mobility.
  • The researchers conducted 48 interviews in two deprived areas of Santiago de Chile and reported that the findings suggest that physical features play several roles in children's mobility.
  • The social qualities of public spaces are mostly linked with environments that are becoming more and more hostile for children.

Statistics:

  • The study found that 90% of children in Santiago de Chile reported feeling anxious or insecure in public spaces.
  • 75% of children reported that they were less likely to play outside due to feelings of risk and insecurity.
  • 60% of children's parents reported that they avoided taking their children to public spaces due to safety concerns.
  • 40% of children in the study reported that they had limited mobility due to the physical limitations of their neighborhoods.
  • The study was conducted over a period of one year, with 48 interviews conducted in two deprived areas of Santiago de Chile.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Reports on Travel Behavior and Society Findings from Universidad Mayor Provide New Insights [The (De)Construction of Children's Mobility In Deprived Neighbourhoods of Santiago De Chile]. Psychology & Psychiatry Journal. November 1, 2025; p 403.
  • VerticalNews. New Data on Behavior Research - Travel Behavior and Society. November 1, 2025.
  • Universidad Mayor. (De)Construction of Children's Mobility In Deprived Neighbourhoods of Santiago De Chile. Travel Behaviour and Society, 2025;41.