Wednesday, August 14, 2002
Advocating benign neglect
In the UK there is a growing movement to reverse ''overprotection'' of children and to advocate ''benign neglect''. A great source of many articles on this theme can be found in Sp!ked. See especially:
Play On by Jenny Cunningham
Children, Parents and the Risk Society by Rachael Dixey
When 'bullying' is just learning how to get along by Nadene Ghouri, Times Educational Supplement - about the charity 'Families for Freedom' (not the same as the USA group of the same name)
Excerpt from Paranoid Parenting by Frank Furedi. Allen Lane, 2001
When children grow out safe playgrounds in which so many kinds of play are banned, they may be unlucky enough to find that there is a street curfew in their neighbourhood. Whether it's protection of children or protection from children, the answer seems to be to reduce opportunities for play.
Fair Play's Curfew Watch
Even without curfews, ''parents are now being told effectively keep their darlings under house arrest''. A Stranger Danger by June McKerrow from the Mental Health Foundation, SIRC - Media Watch
And if children are taken to the great outdoors will they be free to play? The Safe Outdoors by Simon Knight: ''Outdoor education is increasingly being held back by an obsession with avoiding risk.''
And when they are older still and go on a company training course, they may find that trainers avoid any exercises that involve blindfolds, balls or touch - because of the memories or difficulties that such challenges might produce. See the current discussion of "trust activities'" (there can be a 7 day delay before messages appear in the list archives).
Play is being outlawed in so many ways that play or advocating play is a becoming revolutionary act. The risk of disapproval far exceeds the risk of harm. Play is all boxed up.
Roger Greenaway
Play On by Jenny Cunningham
Children, Parents and the Risk Society by Rachael Dixey
When 'bullying' is just learning how to get along by Nadene Ghouri, Times Educational Supplement - about the charity 'Families for Freedom' (not the same as the USA group of the same name)
Excerpt from Paranoid Parenting by Frank Furedi. Allen Lane, 2001
When children grow out safe playgrounds in which so many kinds of play are banned, they may be unlucky enough to find that there is a street curfew in their neighbourhood. Whether it's protection of children or protection from children, the answer seems to be to reduce opportunities for play.
Fair Play's Curfew Watch
Even without curfews, ''parents are now being told effectively keep their darlings under house arrest''. A Stranger Danger by June McKerrow from the Mental Health Foundation, SIRC - Media Watch
And if children are taken to the great outdoors will they be free to play? The Safe Outdoors by Simon Knight: ''Outdoor education is increasingly being held back by an obsession with avoiding risk.''
And when they are older still and go on a company training course, they may find that trainers avoid any exercises that involve blindfolds, balls or touch - because of the memories or difficulties that such challenges might produce. See the current discussion of "trust activities'" (there can be a 7 day delay before messages appear in the list archives).
Play is being outlawed in so many ways that play or advocating play is a becoming revolutionary act. The risk of disapproval far exceeds the risk of harm. Play is all boxed up.
Roger Greenaway
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