New research involving nearly 9,000 children and young people across England has found that greater independence does not automatically lead to better well-being. The study, conducted by the Outdoor Play Research Center at the University of Exeter and published in the journal Wellbeing, Space and Society, highlights that the environment in which children gain independence plays a crucial role. For example, adolescents who felt unsafe in their neighborhoods experienced lower well-being when given more freedom to move around on their own. The findings come at a time when children's freedom has significantly declined over the past few decades. In 1971, 86% of elementary school children in England were allowed to walk to school alone, but by 2010, this number had dropped to 25%. Today, children in England are typically given more independence around the age of 11, when they start high school. Researchers, led by Dr. Paul McCrorie, deputy director of the Outdoor Play Research Center, suggest that this shift may not be giving children enough time to build the skills and confidence needed to handle greater independence safely and effectively. Dr. McCrorie emphasized that while more freedom for children is often seen as beneficial, simply granting independence is not enough. The key, he said, is to create communities where children feel both able and ready to take advantage of that freedom. The Outdoor Play Research Center has called on policymakers to focus not just on encouraging independence, but on creating the conditions that make it possible. This includes coordinated efforts across areas like transportation, urban planning, and community support. To achieve this, the center has proposed practical measures such as increasing the number of zebra crossings, investing in crossing guards, and supporting the establishment of "walking buses"—groups of children walking to school together under adult supervision. In response, the UK's Department for Transport introduced an active travel plan in June, aiming to improve walking, wheeling, and cycling routes. The plan includes a commitment to create 10,000 safer crossings over the next five years, aligning with the call for safer, more child-friendly environments.