Children and Life Chances

Statistics show that the risk of death from being hit by a motor vehicle is
about 6x greater among children of unskilled manual workers than among
children of professional parents.

For accidental death caused by fires, falls and drowning the gap between the
classes is even larger

Task: In groups think of at least 4 reasons why you think this may be the
case

1.

2.

3.

4.

Four possible answers (not to be shown to students)

1. Parents in higher social classes more likely to let their children play
safely within earshot
2. Children from lower social classes more likely to be left to their own
devices in school holidays and out of school hours
3. Poorer homes more likely to have less safe homes (fire risks)
4. Poorer mothers more likely to lead stressful lives making them less
likely to provide continuous protection