Reclaiming childhood. Rebuilding community.

Once upon a time, kids roamed the streets, played until dusk, and made their own adventures - all without adult supervision. They learned independence, made lifelong friends, and grew into confident, capable adults.

Today, fear and over-supervision have pushed that world into memory.

It's time to bring it back.

The Child-Friendly Community

WHAT IS IT

A critical element in raising psychologically healthy children. The skills and knowledge kids acquire when they spend a chunk of their time out on their own are priceless and necessary if they are to grow into mature, confident and self-reliant adults.

These include:

Problem solving
Negotiation
Compromise
Tolerance
Making/keeping friends

Pooling resources
Making decisions
Dealing with problems
Taking sensible risks
Managing anxiety of new situations

What Does a Child-Friendly Community Look Like?

Children from at least 8 yrs are on the streets and in parks and shops in daylight hours without adult supervision

They are free to play within agreed neighbourhood boundaries

They regularly play independently away from home - on the pavement, in quiet streets and parks - in groups and on their own

Groups of children roaming about on their own with no adult supervision are a common sight

Children play their own games, make their own rules and resolve their own squabbles independently of parents and neighbours

Children are known to their neighbours and can seek help when needed from anyone who supports the community

They leave home and come back at agreed times, and phone if they are running late

They regularly meet other kids without adult company and make new friends

Adults in the neighbourhood understand and support a child-friendly community

Adults are aware kids are about and keep an eye on them but don’t intervene except in a genuine emergency

It is no coincidence that the disappearance of child-friendly communities and the essential extinction of free play opportunities have been accompanied by the alarming increases in childhood mental health disorders.

4-17 yr olds were assessed as having mental health disorders in the last 12 months (Young Minds Matter)

1 in 7

of adolescents in Australia experience clinically significant depression or anxiety symptoms (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute)

Almost 75%

of all lifetime mental illnesses begin at age 14
(National Mental Health Commission)

50%

Start a Child-Friendly Community in Your Neighbourhood

Want to see the positive impact on your streets with your children?

Read the Positive Parenting Guide Here

It gives more in-depth information into the steps, benefits for young children and the positive impacts it can have on our neighbourhoods.

Set Safe Boundaries

Child-friendly doesn’t mean neglectful parenting. Set safe boundaries within the community that are agreed upon between parent and child.

Talk to Your Neighbours and Host a Community Meeting

Community works through collaboration and everyone being on the same page. Share our free flyers and downloadable resources.

Normalise Seeing Unsupervised Children Playing

Letting kids be kids out on the streets and in the parks, without adult supervision, is healthy for their development and resilience building. It is not a cause for concern unless in a genuine emergency.