Children's interdependent mobility: compositions, collaborations and compromises

Abstract

This paper discusses findings from Australian research that used a qualitative and participatory methods approach to understand how children develop and negotiate their everyday mobility. Children's mobility negotiations are discussed in reference to interactions with parents, peers and places; journeys in relation to their multi-modality, compositionality and temporality; and mobility formations in terms of ‘companionship’ – travel companions, companion devices and ambient companions. Children's mobility is characterised by interdependencies that both enable and configure this mobility. Three themes – compositions, collaborations and compromises – are used to detail and describe some of the ways these interdependencies take shape and unfold.

Keywords:

• independent mobility
• children
• mobility
• mobile methods
• companions
• interdependency

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), under their Innovation grant scheme. School participation was supported through the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. Authors Nansen, Gibbs and MacDougall also gratefully acknowledge support from the Jack Brockhoff Foundation. The authors would like to express their appreciation to the children, families, teachers and schools involved in this study for their generous contribution of time and experiences.