Children lack the freedom their parents had when they were young, often barred from travelling on public transport or sleeping over at a friend’s house as fears for their safety reach new heights, according to a new report today.

A survey 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.

Parents in Shropshire today agreed with the survey but maintained extra vigilance was needed because families were facing different issues in the 21st century and were more aware of the potential risks to their children’s well-being.

The study, by children’s safety charity LV=Streetwise, 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.

Mother-of-two Louise Smith, from Bridgnorth, said today she had struggled with how much freedom to give her daughter now that she had started secondary school, and she did believe the world was a more dangerous place than when she was young.

Protect

“It is difficult because of course you want them to grow up to understand how to look after themselves, but you also want to protect them and issues like walking home alone from school certainly become a big decision once they reach the age of 11 or 12,” she said.

“I think you can get some balance if you get to know their friends well so that you can trust them to do some things on their own. But with 24-hour media we are more aware of the dangers and we now have things such as the internet to contend with, drugs and escalating knife crime — all things which our parents did not have to be on guard against.”

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

Stella Martin, from St Georges in Telford, has three children aged from eight to 14. She said she felt as if parents were now reminded more often about “what could happen” if they let their guard down.

“You just don’t want to regret that one decision that could leave your child in harm’s way,” she said.

By Tracey O’Sullivan

Why one new mother will be more protective

Rebecca Whitfield and son Miles

First-time mother Rebecca Whitfield admitted today she knew she was going to be more protective of her son Miles as he grows up but felt it was necessary to keep him safe.

“This is a subject close to my heart. I often wander what the future will be like for my son, what with the apparent increase in knife crime among the younger generation, particularly teenagers,” said Rebecca, from Shrewsbury.

“I often wander how bad it will be by the time Miles goes to school.

The first-time mother added: “We recently had our garden done and I know that as we live on the side of a pavement I will not let him play in the garden on his own for fear of somebody coming into the garden and snatching him.

“This was my first thought and then I thought about the fact that he could innocently get out on his own.

“To be honest, at this moment in time, I don’t think I can see me letting him go to the park on his own for many, many years, if ever. I do think that it is quite a sad state of affairs because when I was young, my sister and I were always going around to the park with our water bombs in the summer,” added Rebecca who runs Kidzears.

“I would probably let him catch a bus when he gets to 12-years-old or so as my only fear then would be him getting on the right one and I would walk him to the bus stop.”

She added: “If you had asked me this question two years ago I would then have said that Shrewsbury was safe to let children go off on their own, and I’d imagine compared to the inner cities it is, but I feel my son will not have the same freedom that I had because there is just so much more to be afraid of and it seems to be getting worse all the time.”