The seduction of the wheel: a synthesis of research-based issues surrounding car-led construction activities of young children and the relationship these may have with current environmental trends which progressively seek to limit the impact of road traffic

Construction activities play a core role in design and technology education. Some of this activity is undertaken through the medium of construction kits, especially in the early years. Modelling of wheeled vehicles has always been a popular activity for children and indeed this is often the premier choice for pupils engaged in "free choice" situations. This paper examines aspects of free choice activity and relates this to the "car-led" mindset of wider society and the implications this may have for future transport choices. Research evidence has been collected from a range of cultural/geographic settings to provide qualitative and quantitative data on building choices made by children. Against the evidence collected from this research background, the paper asks to what extent car-led construction activity in primary schools may, by virtue of the consequent mindset developed in children, be a future mechanism for strengthening public resistance to changing travel habits in order to secure environmental benefits.