Perth Voice Interactive

KIDS these days are so removed from risk they grow up lacking resilience to deal with real life, reckons Vincent mayor Alannah MacTiernan.

She wants to introduce more nature playgrounds around the city where kids play in shallow creeks, build stuff with sticks, climb trees and take a few minor risks.

With most padded-floor playgrounds built by paranoid designers terrified of personal injury lawsuits, the lack of scraped knees doesn’t set kids up well to cope with the struggles of life, Ms MacTiernan says.

“We have sanitised our playgrounds and taken all the risk and excitement out,” she sighs.

“These kids then just do not have enough robustness, the spirit to cope with school… to stake their own place when they do have to leave their parents.

“They come into a school environment and they just lack resilience, and you can’t be in cotton wool the whole time.”

Based on an idea the sport and recreation department’s been kicking around the past couple of years, the mayor wants to look at having a natural playground in places like Britannia, Banks and Jack Marks Reserves.

Many studies compiled by local business Nature Play Solutions show natural play areas that give kids a challenge help them their intellectual development and problem-solving.

Local parents, teachers, and anyone else interested in the idea can come along to the mayor’s nature play forum this Saturday April 13, 2pm at the Vincent admin centre, RSVP 9273 6557.

by DAVID BELL