Children should be allowed to explore
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Middle-class parents feel pressured into providing their children extra-curricular activity, says a head teacher.
Graham Gorton, chairman of the Independent Schools Association, says this can affect family time.
He also bemoans a “must-have” culture that makes parents feel they are failing in their duties if they cannot buy their children the latest gadgets.
“Over recent decades we seem to have created a ‘must-have’ culture amongst our young people.
“Many see that they may be perceived to be failing as parents if thy do not ensure that their children have the latest gadgets and electronic devices along with their peers.
“Many parents also, I suspect, feel pressured to enrol their offspring into every conceivable club or after-school activity that is available, including through the weekends.
“This must have an impact on the very precious family time that exists.
“Long gone, it seems, are those times when a whole weekend ahead with nothing planned was seen as a luxury and a perfect opportunity to spend time together and share those valuable and irreplaceable moments of childhood.”
Not only do parents hope their children will get extra skills, but there is also the hope that extra activities will boost their academic achievements.
Research suggests that exam results are improved by wider experience of extra-curricular activities such as music and sports.
Mr Gorton calls for a common-sense approach to education and the bringing-up of children.
“At me last school the pupils were allowed, and even actively encouraged, to climb trees within the grounds of the school.
“ They were told which ones were best to climb and how to climb them safely, but were then left to explore with adults close at hand but not prohibiting them from discovering their own limits and extending their climbing activities.”
He recalls in the eight years that he was at the school there was only one pupil who suffered a sprained ankle, as he went a little to high up a tree.
Children learn best by experience and by taking measured risks, he claims.
But he warns this is being jeopardised by health and safety legislation.
By Deepika Dudakia
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