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thomas davison

Why stopping children from climbing trees and playing in mud is creating a nation of 'cotton wool kids' who cannot cope with ups and downs of real life

Many reluctant to let children take part in activities they themselves enjoyed

By Anna Edwards

PUBLISHED: 06:40, 29 July 2013 | UPDATED: 08:31, 29 July 2013
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Quarter of parents will hire tutors over children's school holidays to stop pupils' 'summer slide'
The vigilante paedophile hunters: They claim to be good citizens exposing sex predators by posing as underage girls online. Police say they're recklessly jeopardising official investigations. Who's right?

Most children now spend less than three hours a week playing out and getting dirty

Most children now spend less than three hours a week playing out and getting dirty

Gone are the days when scraped knees and grazed elbows were practically a badge of honour for adventurous children.

Over-protective mothers are creating a generation of 'cotton wool kids' by actively encouraging children to play indoors.

Most children now spend less than three hours a week playing out and getting dirty, according to a new study.

Climbing trees, riding bikes and even camping with friends are all on the decline - to the detriment of emotional health, a government study has discovered.

The result is that thousands are growing up as 'home hermits' who lack the key skills vital for coping with the ups and downs of later life.

The worrying trend emerges in a poll of 1000 UK mothers with children aged between 7 and 12, which also looks at its impact in a 2013 White Paper 'Emotional Resilience among Children'.

The study suggests two thirds of mothers (59 per cent) prefer to keep their youngsters inside, with the majority (82 per cent) spending that time in front of the television.

Many are even reluctant to let their sons and daughters take part in activities they themselves enjoyed - like the Cub Scouts or the Brownies.

While 57 per cent of their parents were members, only 16 per cent of today's youngsters sign-up.

Others say they are too anxious about the risks of rough and tumble activities and some would go so far as to ban them.

Over a quarter (28 per cent) admit they probably would not let their children climb a tree and 35 per cent would be concerned if their children did.

Nearly half (43 per cent) would be unlikely to let them go on a cycle ride with friends or camp in the garden (37 per cent).
Two thirds of mothers prefer to keep their youngsters inside, with the majority spending that time in front of the television

Two thirds of mothers prefer to keep their youngsters inside, with the majority spending that time in front of the television

Despite the recent heat-wave, most mothers blame the usually inclement British weather (65 per cent) and pure laziness (15 per cent). Less than one in ten (9 per cent) admits to a lack of adventure.

Alongside the concerning move towards a risk-averse lifestyle, however, the survey found children themselves do want to play out with pals.

Over two thirds (64 per cent) choose to play in the garden, more than a third (37 per cent) play sport, 10 per cent love to climb trees and 6 per cent love camping outdoors with friends.

The White Paper was developed by Persil in conjunction with Child Development Specialist, Dr Barbie Clarke, Enver Solomon of the National Children's Bureau, and Mummy Blogger Deborah Lickfett.

Ms Solomon said: 'It is a dilemma that all parents face-wanting their children to grow up strong, confident and independent, but also wanting to keep them safe from harm.

'Starting from the very early days of infant hood, children both want and need to push their boundaries in order to learn about themselves and the world around them.

'Children would never learn to walk, climb stairs or ride a bike unless they were strongly motivated to respond to challenges.

'It is the critical life skills learnt through play that help children cope with the risks and challenges that they will face throughout life.'

Chris Calland, an educational consultant and expert in children's emotional development, said: 'Research by UNICEF in 2007 ranked UK children as bottom for child well-being.

'When children were asked what they felt was most important to them they highlighted time with family and friends and playing outside as the things they valued most.

'It's our job as parents to prepare our children for adult life and teach them how to negotiate their modern world. They need to learn how to be resilient, take responsibility, cope with risks and become independent thinkers.'

'Outside play is a key element of development.'

But it is not only stopping the kids doing what comes naturally but the government is also making sure that none of our young men know how to use weapons, the two put together makes the UK an easy target for Terrorists who happen to be muslims.
If nothing is done and the government is allowed to carry on turning our men in gays and men who cannot cope in the real world then WE WILL BE TAKEN OVER.