I nearly fell out of my seat when I read a recent article about cartwheels being banned in a primary school’s playground. The mother of one child who loves to do cartwheels decided to investigate further.
Ms Buschgens met with school principal Glenn Dickson and was told gymnastics activities were a `medium risk level 2′ that posed a danger to children.
After making her own inquiries, the North Ward mum found that gymnastics was indeed listed as a level 2 risk – when performed in class – along with cricket, soccer, tennis, netball, touch football and other sports.
Those sports have not been banned at lunchtime.
Funny how those organised sports that can bring glory to the school are allowed to continue, whereas the simple fun that happens during recess or lunchtime, sometimes with a bit of competition LOL is banned. This is the nanny state gone mad.
Here’s an opinion piece that says much that I was thinking.
Now it might be that back then we were a little too casual in our attitudes to child safety, but we are swiftly headed towards an equally unacceptable extreme.
That’s why schools and parents need to work together and find a balance between a responsible duty of care and letting kids be kids.
One school I have been told of has put seatbelts across all their swings in case the kids fall out.
Fair enough – but it doesn’t teach them the far more important life lesson of how to hang on.
Hang on, friends, and stand up for the right to do cartwheels. 
Filed under: Children's Health, Life Matters | Tagged: fun, idiots are everywhere, school
