Letter: Parental paranoia is restricting children
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: In his review (7 July) of the BBC 2 Open Space programme 'The Kids Aren't All Right', Thomas Sutcliffe suggests that it was 'a lousy week' to be telling parents not to worry so much about allowing their children out on their own, no doubt owing to the killing of a three-year-old child and the abduction of a newborn baby from a hospital. As Mr Sutcliffe knows, these TV productions are planned, filmed and scheduled well in advance of their screening.
In my view, the media have a responsibility to allay fears where these are grossly exaggerated. In fact, Home Office statistics show that, on average, one child a year is murdered by a stranger, and I am unaware of any evidence that this average was lower a generation ago, when surveys by the Policy Studies Institute have recorded that children enjoyed far fewer restrictions on their freedom than they do today. As a consequence of parental paranoia about this minute risk - albeit, of course, tragic in the particular circumstance - literally millions of children are having their independence severely and unnecessarily curtailed.
There is increasing professional concern about the significance of the damage to children's physical, social and emotional development resulting from the restrictions on their freedom. Clearly, this issue warrants more informed public debate.
Yours faithfully,
MAYER HILLMAN
London, NW3
11 July
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments