Should Our Kids Be Wearing Hard Hats?

Safety is important. Advances in Health and Safety legislation and knowledge means our working and personal lives have never been safer which can only be a good thing.
However the invasion of health and safety into our everyday lives is now seen by some as having gone too far and if left unchecked could have a detrimental effect upon our children.

Research carried out by various UK charities has shown a sharp decline in the level of 'outdoor play' enjoyed by the average 10 year old. With unsupervised outdoor play falling dramatically in the last decade.

The reasons for the reduction has been put down to a myriad of causes including

The rise in popularity and availability of 'video' games amongst young children.
The perceived level of danger faced by children on our streets
The reduction in the number of public outdoor recreational facilities, such as council run playgrounds and parks.
The results of such changes are having a direct impact on children's health and wellbeing according to researchers. They cite the dramatic rise in childhood obesity as one of the major results of the reduction of outdoor play and warn of the potential developmental issues children may face from being wrapped in cotton wool.
"Children need outdoor play and some level of danger in order to grow normally" claims child psychologist Emma Drayton. "Through normal outdoor activates such as climbing, playing with outdoor toys and playing sports children learn a great deal of both mental and motor skills that are essential for adult life"
So should we be more willing to allow children to take more risks in life, the resounding answer from the professionals is 'YES'.