Safety fears take a toll on kids' freedom

London, Apr 28 (ANI): With parents fearing more about their kids' security, the children are deprived of freedom their parents had when they were young, a survey revealed.

The survey by children's safety charity LV=Streetwise, of more than 6,000 adults and 1,000 children, showed huge restrictions on the lives of youngsters because of parents' growing fears and anxieties.

The study found that one in four under-15s were not allowed to stay the night at a friend's house and almost two-thirds were told not to use public transport.

Most parents said they thought the world was a more dangerous place than when they were growing up, with some of them banning from using public transport or sleeping over when they were young.

Children now have to wait two years longer to enjoy the kind of freedom their parents had when they were young, the report said.

Parents' main worries include "stranger danger", bullying, mugging and road hazards, the study revealed.

On average, children now walk to school on their own by the age of 11, use public transport by themselves at 12 and babysit a brother or sister at 14, all two years later than their parents.

"It's difficult for parents to know when is the right time to step back and allow children to experience things on their own, and this report shows just how much things have changed over the last generation," the Mirror quoted Mike Rogers, group chief executive of insurance firm LV=, as saying.

"Parents have a key role in helping their children to become more risk-aware and better at spotting everyday dangers in the world around them," he added. (ANI)