Risk fear creating 'scaredy cats'

The conference will assess the balance between risk and safety

A preoccupation with minimising risk at home and in the classroom could be creating a generation of "scaredy cats", an author has warned.

Tom Hodgkinson, who wrote The Idle Parent, believes a "cotton wool culture" could be stopping children from developing confidence.

He was among speakers at a conference in Stirling discussing the balance between risk and safety for children.

The conference was also attended by Children's Minister Adam Ingram.

The conference, organised by Children in Scotland and Play Scotland, discussed whether risk aversion in society could have a long-term impact on youngsters.

You can be too careful these days. We must let the children go, so they can play and simply be Tom Hodgkinson Author of The Idle Parent

Child experts argue that wrapping children too much in cotton wool can have a detrimental effect on their ability to assess risks as adults and leave them lacking in initiative.

Tom Hodgkinson said mantras like "you can't be too careful these days" needed to be challenged.

He said: "What I want to say is, you can be too careful these days. We must let the children go, so they can play and simply be.

"Otherwise we will create a generation of 'scaredy cats' with no courage or confidence.

"This may be good for business - after all, anxious people make the best consumers - but it is most decidedly not good as far as our mental health goes."

The Scottish government has put £4m into the Go Play programme which it says is aimed at promoting physical development and confidence within the education system.

A training centre has also been opened in Wester Fowlis, Perthshire, to encourage nursery staff to be less cautious about teaching outdoors.

'Healthier debate'

Mr Ingram said: "Having the chance to play and interact is part of growing up and by helping our young people explore the world around them through play we can promote their physical development, imagination and confidence while enriching childhoods and embedding skills that last a lifetime.

"There is a cotton wool culture that has developed over time in Scotland which is why we are leading a national debate around sensible approaches to play and risk through our Early Years Framework."

Tim Gill, the author of No Fear: Growing up in a risk averse society, also attended the conference and afterwards said he was optimistic the pendulum was slowly starting to swing away from the over-protective culture.

He cited the recent outcry in England about plans for the vetting of people coming into contact with children and said: "I think we are starting to see a healthier debate about this."

He said: "In particular we are seeing some of the more thoughtful media and people saying we cannot fool ourselves into thinking we can stop anything bad from ever happening, but that's not to say we shouldn't try to find a middle way."