The vast majority of families report living in non-problem neighbourhoods. If parents consider their neighbourhoods to be unsafe, they are unlikely to allow their children to play on the street or in local parks. This restricts children's abilities to form friendships and to develop good social skills. The kinds of factors used to identify neighbourhood safety were whether or not parents felt it was safe to walk alone after dark and whether or not it was safe for children to play outside or in local parks and playgrounds during the day. Friendly, helpful neighbours Another measure of the quality of neighbourhood life is how friendly and helpful people act towards their neighbours.
Children can learn positive social skills in supportive neighbourhoods.
Conversely, they can learn negative behaviours in neighbourhoods where people do not look out for or help each other. Again, the data show that children in low-income families are less likely to have friendly, helpful neighbours than children in families with higher incomes.