No conkers is bonkers, says Health and Safety Executive
A generation of overprotected children need to be given greater freedom to learn about risk, the health and safety regulator has said.
In a joint statement that may cause some furrowing of brows given its history, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Play Safety Forum (PSF) said children need to do outdoor activities such as climbing and conkers in order to grasp the realities of the world.
It comes in response to a “significant loss in freedom” for children over the past 40 years and proposes a balanced approach which accepts children will be exposed to risk.
Play providers should focus on “sensible adult judgements” rather than an overblown fear of litigation and prosecution, the statement says.
Limited Deal. All day wedding photography only £545.00
View details
All day wedding photography only £545.00
From Bridal preparations to first dance.
250+ Hi Res images on disc with full printing rights.
Professional photography at affordable prices.
Terms:
Free no obligation consultations.
Offer subject to availability.
Book before 31st May 2013.
Email:carmelo@bellafoto.co.uk
Available in Bath, Bristol and surrounding areas.
Contact: 01225 439257
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
They should determine how children can benefit from challenging play while still making sure they are not exposed to unnecessary risk.
HSE chair Judith Hackitt said: “Health and safety laws are often wrongly cited as a reason to deny children opportunities.
“I welcome this statement, which brings clarity and focus to what really matters when managing the risks associated with children’s play."
The HSE said previous research had shown a “shocking” half of children aged between seven and 12 are not allowed to climb a tree without an adult present and one in five children of the same age have been stopped from playing conkers because it is “too dangerous”.
Robin Sutcliffe, chairman of the Play Safety Forum, said the statement would help schools and groups give children greater freedom to learn from adventurous play.
Comments
by tomsjan
Saturday, September 08 2012, 12:14PM
“Oh dear Malcolm, wrong there I'm afraid - "conkers" was used as an activity versus grammar lessons, (as in "less walking, more driving" ;) ) not as a plural of the fruit of the Horse Chestnut - better luck next time!”
by HMSTamaki
Friday, September 07 2012, 1:04PM
“@Moe: Irony may be an alien concept, but nitpicking and red-arrowing seem to be local past-times.”
by mcupis
Friday, September 07 2012, 7:43AM
“Good post Tomsjan!
Apart from the grammar! It's fewer conkers not less!”
by MoeXXX
Thursday, September 06 2012, 11:51PM
“B****r me, irony must be an alien concept in these here parts.”
by Viscount_V
Thursday, September 06 2012, 7:15PM
“Perhap's you'd be so kind as to proof read my other post's Tomsjan?
I'd hate to think I'd put any other apostrophe'ses' in the wrong place in my haste to put to keyboard the ideal's in my head. I guess I better had go back to school and do more learnin'.
Much obliged to you.”
by tomsjan
Thursday, September 06 2012, 2:04PM
“We live in a ridiculous nanny state where children are not allowed to play conkers but are allowed out on the roads on foot and on bikes with NO road sense! teach them some basic road safety skills instead of worrying unnecessarily about playground games.
And VV - I have a middle class aversion to the misuse of apostrophes! Sons (plural) does not have one!! Son's (son is) does. Less conkers more grammar lessons perhaps? :)”
by HMSTamaki
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 6:00PM
“Do you know, people - you probably do but it's all new to me - there seems to be someone out there who red arrows things other people have put for no reason at all. Has he - I feel certain it's a he - nothing better to do? If so, I feel very sorry for him.”
by aurea_flamma
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 5:17PM
“"They should determine how children can benefit from challenging play while still making sure they are not exposed to unnecessary risk"............
and as soon as anyone is injured they will come in and deem the risk unnecessary and take action against the responsible person - its no wonder people are proactrive and ban everything!
"Health and safety laws are often wrongly cited as a reason to deny children opportunities."..... it is the reaction to the implementation of those laws that cause the problem!
you reap what you sow and in this case the HSE have only themselves to blame for the well intentioned protectionist policies of those who will be found wanting if anything goes wrong!”
by mopsus2
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 10:27AM
“You can't 'pretend to be a Catholic' to get your child into a particular school as a baptism certificate will be required. However maybe in a time of cuts it is now time to look into how much the Council spends on free bus rides from as far away as Radstock to St. Gregory's.”
by lamail
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 9:54AM
“As a lad I found great pleasure playing with my conkers.Even now I find a quick game of trouser billiards a harmless and enjoyable pastime - although if my wife notices she invariably exclaims - will you stop playing with your nuts- its not Autumn! which is odd because of course it is!”