Children’s independent mobility after dark

The freedom for children to autonomously move and play in their neighborhood, i.e. their independent mobility, has implications for their health, wellbeing and development. How children and parents experience the outdoor environment is vital to children’s independent mobility. Well-lit outdoor environments are, among adults, associated with perceived visual accessibility, safety, and walking. However, few studies focus on children’s needs and experiences. This literature review aims to examine the peer-reviewed scientific literature, which has, until now, analysed the associations between children’s independent mobility and light and darkness. By formulating a Boolean search string, including terms related to children, independent mobility, lighting, and outdoor environment, scientific databases were searched. The search resulted in 61 eligible studies that can be divided into two main themes: 1) natural light and darkness and 2) the quality or presence of artificial lighting. Results show that lighting conditions can support or hinder children’s independent mobility by impacting perceived security and safety, route choices, physical activity, and place connectivity. By highlighting the child perspective, valuable knowledge is obtained to implement the Agenda 2030 of ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing for all at all ages (Goal 3), and making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (Goal 11).