Wild woods or urban jungle: playing it safe or freedom to roam

Abstract

The rationale and focus for this paper is a discussion from five perspectives on the issues surrounding childhood freedoms and levels of physical activity. From our different perspectives we argue that beneath these very real and proper concerns that parents have for their children's safety are societal concerns and perceptions concerning the nature of childhood within contemporary English society. The knock-on effects for children, in terms of physical, emotional, social and creative development are the issues that the paper seeks to raise. Writing this paper together has enabled the continuation and extension of an on-going discussion between the five authors.