Appraising Independent Mobility of Children in Military Barrack Community Milieu of Developing Countries

Abstract

Independent mobility refers to children’s liberty to play freely in the neighborhood without been supervised by adults. However, mobility restriction has affected child-friendliness in military barrack community in developing countries including Nigeria. The study aimed to explore principles of independent mobility in creating child-friendly barrack. Thirty journal articles related to children’s environment studies, military geographies and barrack housing were reviewed and analyzed. Children’s level of independent mobility impacts their physical, social, cognitive, and emotional developments.  Consequently, walking or cycling-friendly environment as active travel mode was found to have positively contributed to improved well-being and quality of life of children in military barracks.