Authorities in the Netherlands are dealing with sedentary kids by taking a page from the GenX kid experience. Instead of “soft play,” children are going to playgrounds where risk-taking play is encouraged. That includes cooking things over a campfire…which sees the food go up in flames at times. The kids can climb, play with water and fire, roll in mud, sword-fight with sticks, build with hammers, rope or knives, wrestle and fall.The guidelines say “Rufty-tufty playing means that children might get a bump or a cut,” according to the policy… but it’s an acceptable risk.” The idea is to prepare children to deal with stresses that get thrown at them throughout life.
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