Youngsters in Britain are at risk of having few friends because of adults' fears about their safety, The Children's Society has warned.

A series of topics examined in the charity's Good Childhood Inquiry concluded that friends were fundamental to childhood development as was letting children have freedom to play.

But, the survey found 43 per cent of adults think children should not be allowed out with their friends until they are 14 or over, while 22 per cent of over-60s felt youngsters should be at least 16 before being allowed to go out on their own. The survey of 1,148 adults also found there was evidence suggesting that the number of teenagers with no best friends has increased from around one in eight to almost a fifth since 1986.

It warned that being isolated from or bullied by other youngsters can lead to serious problems such as depression, aggression, anti-social and delinquent behaviour.

The research also revealed that friendships formed when people are young are very important, with 69 per cent of adults still in touch with at least one childhood friend.

Bob Reitemeier, chief executive of The Children's Society, said: "Children have told us loud and clear that friendship matters and yet this is an area in which we appear to be failing them.

"As a society we are in a real quandary: on the one hand we want freedom for our children but on the other we are becoming increasingly frightened to let them out.

"All the research shows that spending time with friends is fundamental to children's
well-being and development which means it is crucial that we resolve this contradiction."
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Society has definitely changed...my eldest boy asked to go on a train the other day which made me realise how much we drive our children everywhere to the degree they probably couldn't even cross a major high road...if any road.

Still, I grew up with one brotha whose parents gave him all the freedom he could need and he always had the latest to the degree we were always concerned if he'd be able to manage on his own as a man....well he ended up going down in this saga..


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6525967.stm

My eldest only goes to school on his own now because we have no choice, its so far!

I don't allow them to play out with the kids in my area, mainly because i can't see them from any window in my house.

Up till Monday they played out in my mothers estate where they havemany friends, However, some kids from a rival estate creeped up and fired 6 shots at them in the play park at 7pm on Monday evening, gladly no one was hurt, but from now on my kids will be fat and friendless till they reach 18!

Melissa - that's serious. I always used to have an admiration of estates in that they were often secluded from main roads with plenty paved and green areas nearby for play. In my youth I could cycle for far and was in reach of several playgrounds and shops without ever having to cross a main road. Now, raising my children in a semi-detached house it's like there's a road right outside the front door and the nearest playground/parlk is a drive away.

Exactly.

And as my mother has lived there for many years it was ideal for me. Everyoneknow who mykids areround there, i didn't have to worry about them too much when they were out playing.

Now they haven't even got that priviledge.

I'm glad they have books, DVDsand computer games at home because that will be their entertainment this summer.