Discussion on benefits of outdoor play cause friction
29/07/2009 An article written last week promoting the benefits of letting children play outside has caused a journalist to receive a threat of child protection services.
A column on bangordailynews.com which said that children should be able to play outside was written by Sarah Smiley, who had a response from a reader threatening to send child protective services round to her house.
Ms Smiley simply said that she let her boys play outside and ride their bikes on the sidewalk.
The journalist wrote: "Have we really changed so much in the span of one generation that it is considered child neglect if you don't keep your children locked in the house?"
She went on to say that an ideal childhood should be spent running and playing outdoors and that in the space of a generation people have become afraid of over-hyped dangers.
According to Bupa, children should be doing at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, but four out of ten boys and six out of ten girls do not reach this target.
A column on bangordailynews.com which said that children should be able to play outside was written by Sarah Smiley, who had a response from a reader threatening to send child protective services round to her house.
Ms Smiley simply said that she let her boys play outside and ride their bikes on the sidewalk.
The journalist wrote: "Have we really changed so much in the span of one generation that it is considered child neglect if you don't keep your children locked in the house?"
She went on to say that an ideal childhood should be spent running and playing outdoors and that in the space of a generation people have become afraid of over-hyped dangers.
According to Bupa, children should be doing at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, but four out of ten boys and six out of ten girls do not reach this target.
