Cotton wool kids - QLD Government claim we are raising a generation of kids who don't know how to play...

by Ali's Wonderland (follow)

Social trends (6)      Active kids (2)      QLD Government (1)      Screen time (1)     

The Queensland Government have launched a program aimed to educate parents on how to get their children to play outside.

This new Nature Play program was prompted by an recent increase of children aged 5-14 years, presenting to emergency with broken limbs.

The government are hoping this program encourages parents to switch 'screen' time for 'green' time.

Parents need to take this, and the rising obesity rates, as a wake up call and remember that children learn through play. They will learn if they fall, it will hurt and take the necessary measures not to fall next time.

Perhaps I am in the minority, but my three and a half year old daughter and two year old nephew would happily potter outside in the backyard, in the cubby house or the local playground all day, only coming to me when they are hungry or thirsty.



I recently wrote an article about helping your kids to be more active. In this piece, I noted my shock when the Director of my daughter's preschool commented that they had a number of children that could not physically write because they had no core strength. That statement speaks volumes about our modern society.



I am absolutely thrilled that my daughter's preschool focus on learning through play, rather than more traditional methods of 'rote' learning. At this preschool, the kids are allowed to get their hands dirty in the mud kitchen, in the vegetable garden, in the sandpit, paint and they are even encouraged to bring along their rain coat and gumboots so they can play outside on rainy days.

I understand it is difficult in families where both parents work to find the time to take their children outside during the week. However, this just makes it so much more important that they go outside together as a family on the weekends. Surely, it is the parents' responsibility, not the Governments, to set an example for their children and enforce limits on the amount of 'screen' time they allow their children to watch.



I know my fondest memories of childhood are those of playing outside, making muds pies, jumping on the trampoline, riding bikes, playing street cricket - the list goes on. As a community, I think it's important that we stop pushing our children to be the 'best' in everything they do and simply let them be children. They have the rest of their lives to be 'grown up.'

Are we raising a generation of kids that don't know how to play? Is it necessary for the government to step in or should the parents take more responsibility for their children's health?

#Social Trends
#QLD Government
#Active kids
#Screen time

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