Children ‘need to learn about risk’

A GENERATION of overprotected children need to be given greater freedom to learn about risk as they play, the health and safety regulator has said.

In a joint statement, the Health and Safety Executive and the Play Safety Forum said children need to do outdoor activities such as climbing and playing 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 more balanced approach that accepts children will be exposed to risk and even danger when they play.