LONDON (AFP) — Youngsters are being denied the chance to lead an adventurous and robust childhood because of over-cautious parenting, a survey warned on Monday.
An ICM survey commissioned by Play England found that half of children aged between seven and 12 had been banned from climbing trees on their own while 21 percent were not allowed to play conkers.
Adrian Voce, director of Play England, said: "Playing is an essential part of growing up. Adventurous play both challenges and excites children and helps instil critical life skills.
"Constantly wrapping children in cotton wool can leave them ill-equipped to deal with stressful or challenging situations they might encounter later in life.
"Children both need and want to push their boundaries in order to explore their limits and develop their abilities," he added.
The survey found that only 29 percent of children said their most adventurous play had occurred outdoors compared with 70 percent of adults.
Instead, it claimed that children now find their adventure in controlled environments such as playgrounds, theme parks and inside their homes.
The survey polled 1,030 young people aged 7-16, and 1,031 adults.
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