Ottawa Citizen – Andrew Seymour
“Parents need to take the bubble wrap off their kids and let them take more risks when they play, according to a group of CHEO Research Institute doctors…“The biggest risk is keeping your kids indoors,” said Dr. Mark Tremblay…being inside results in excess snacking, breathing recirculated indoor air, not enough sunlight, and less social interaction with other children and their neighbourhoods. And the risk of a child being exposed to a predator online is 500 times higher than on the street, he said…“Parents are increasingly cautious when it comes to their kids and physical play and what we now consider risk, whereas in the past it was just a part of childhood,” said Nora Spinks, chief executive of the Vanier Institute of the Family…Spinks said physical activity and the ability to assess risk is essential to children’s brain development.”(more)