UK Officials to Schools: Skinned Knees Are OK

Daily Telegraph – September 02, 2008
By Jessica Salter

Many traditional playground games have been outlawed by schools because of fears they are too dangerous and may lead to compensation claims.

Pastimes such as skipping have been stopped after pupils fell over when they tied their legs together, while one school issued pupils with safety goggles before allowing them to play conkers.

British Bulldog - where children try to stop one another from running across a pitch - is banned in many schools for being too violent.

However the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents town halls, claims schools must balance these worries with concern for children's overall welfare and a need to keep them physically active.

Councillor Les Lawrence, from the LGA, said: "Children benefit from physical activity and even some rough and tumble. We do our youngsters no favours by wrapping them up in cotton-wool, which can prevent them from developing skills they'll need in their adult life.

"It's time to take a stand against many aspects of the compensation culture and accept there are going to be a few scratches and grazed knees because that's part of growing up."

If current trends continue, it is estimated that nearly 60 per cent of the UK population will be obese by 2050. To stay healthy, children need to do 60 minutes of physical activity a day, but many simply stay inside and watch television.

Cllr Lawrence said: "While children used to play regularly on their bikes or kick a ball, they're now more likely to spend their free time in front of a television or round a computer console. That makes it even more important they do some running around during the school day."

The LGA, which represents more than 400 councils in England and Wales, has issued local authorities with a list of its top 10 activities for breaktimes before the start of the new school year, including British Bulldog, Tag and Stuck in the Mud.

Sue Palmer, an education consultant and the author of the book Toxic Childhood, said she was delighted that children were being encouraged to play more.

She said: "While we do everything we sensibly can to make sure that children are safe, we've got to balance that with the opportunity for children to engage in safe risks through unstructured play. They've got to learn how to be resilient and how to take care of themselves.

"Playtime not only helps children develop physically, it also gives them an understanding of the world. When you fall out of a tree you learn a lot about gravity and the human body."

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said it was happy for schools and local councils to decide on what playtime games are allowed.

He said: "If they want to, let them crack on with it."

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