 News
6th February 2008
Parents are
producing 'battery farmed' childrenParents who refuse to let their
children out to play are producing a "battery-farmed" generation, says Families
Minister, Kevin Brennan. He warned that these youngsters would never become
resilient and would be unable to cope with risk. Mr Brennan cited figures
showing that more than a third of children are never let out to play. Launching
a child safety action plan, he said that primary pupils should be allowed to walk
or cycle to school and the public should accept that young people have a right
to gather in groups on the street. He added: "We can all sometimes as parents
get a little bit focused on wrapping our children in cotton wool and it's not
good for them to do that all the time. We have to educate people about the real
risks they face." He gave the example of a girl he met who cycles to primary
school in Battersea, South London, every day. She was growing up to be
"remarkably confident", perhaps because she was learning to cope with risks. "One
of the things you can do to stop children being involved in traffic accidents
is to never allow them out," he said. "Of course, that will produce a generation
of battery-farmed children." He said the Government is building more play
areas and planning a communications campaign to warn families of the dangers children
actually face. He produced a report which claims that abuse by strangers
is "rare" and the vast majority of accidents occur in the home. Mr Brennan
also announced a bonfire of red tape aimed at encouraging school trips. The number
of excursions has been declining because of health and safety regulations. Teachers
are having to make contingencies for disasters such terrorist attacks on routine
trips to museums. The minister said that paperwork associated with trips
should be reduced to three A4 forms, and venues will be given "kite marks" if
they are judged safe for school parties. This would help quickly identify
places already recognised for their safety standards. Mr Brennan said accidents
on school trips were rare. "They do occur and you will never eliminate
them completely but on the other hand, that's life." However David Laws,
the Liberal Democrats children's spokesman, said: "These warm words are
not being matched by any real action. "It seems profoundly unlikely that
a Government run by Gordon Brown is going to retreat from endless nannying and
meddling." Where to next? | 
