A social-ecological conceptualization of children’s mobility

Abstract Over the past several decades, urban regions across the world have seen a dramatic shift in how, when, and where children spend their time, and how they travel to their daily destinations. Current research has indicated a significant increase in parental supervision, and more children are now being driven than ever before. In this chapter, we offer a conceptual framework for understanding children’s mobility using a social-ecological approach. We propose that the household members, including adult caregivers/parents and a child evaluate alternative outcomes relating to the location where a child is traveling to/from (i.e., the destination), whether or not the child is being accompanied by an adult (i.e., the accompaniment), and the transportation option that is being used to make the trip (i.e., the travel mode), based on the socio-demographic, environmental and social-political contexts within which these decisions are being made. We offer a discussion of how a child’s socio-demographic characteristics and household composition, available transportation options and parental availability, social and the built environment in the neighborhood, and other external aspects such as urban policy/regulations may affect a child’s transportation outcomes. An improved understanding of these influences is important because it can help policy makers, professionals, and communities to develop targeted interventions that might improve children’s health and wellbeing.