Really…….. When did we stop kids from being kids and care more about beetles.

Posted by Mark Raw in Childcare Industry

Just read this article online by Ian Gallagher of the Daily Mail and had to have my say, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046977/Children-tears-Richmond-Park-officials-pull-camps.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

 What is going on with people today when there are 6 guys jumping from a van to take down dens made by youngsters in a public park?  Firstly, a sledge hammer to crack a nut springs to mind, secondly did these Health and Safety park  commandos never build dens when they were kids?  Of course they did, we all did.  I had one up for 2 months where we lived.  It was a great source of fun for me and my friends.  We’d spend hours there each weekend without mobile phones, face book, instant messaging and all of the other modern things we have come to depend on, instead of encouraging our children to use their natural ability to explore through play.

The article talks about the “officials” deciding that the children were not safe, despite the fact that parents were there with their 7 year old children.  Surely the parents would have moved them on if they felt the kids were unsafe playing there.  After all they cared enough about their children to accompany them a short distance away, when they bought some ice creams leaving the dens unattended.

As such an activity seems common place in the park with Health and Safety ‘den commandos’ doing these raids on a regular basis, surely some Manager would just stop and think it through.  These youngsters are just using the park as other kids have done for years, messing around and taking part in childish activities.  Does the council want to erect signs saying No cycling, No Dens, No climbing trees, NOKIDS???

It should be noted that the site has been designated of special scientific interest for Cardinal Click Beetles, Stag Beetles and Deer.  Not that I don’t agree that they should be preserved and encouraged to thrive, but the park wardens will know where the colonies are and should preserve those areas only and allow the kids to do their thing in other areas.  Too simple or am I missing something????

I finish with the statement from the Royal Parks spokesman “…. for the benefit of the visitors we have to dismantle dens if there is a risk they could collapse”.

Why not suggest that they maybe they advise little Tom how to build a better den that does not collapse, thus improve his design, engineering and building skills.  Who knows what great structure little Tom could be responsible for when he is older.

I guess that’s how Isambard Brunel started……….