Kids are being denied the opportunity to lead an adventurous and robust childhood because of over-cautious parenting according to a survey for Play England.

The UK-wide poll by ICM on behalf of Play England found that half of 7-12 year olds had been banned from climbing trees on their own and one in 5 had been prevented from playing conkers.

Adrian Voce, director of Play England, said: "Playing is an essential part of growing up. Adventurous play both challenges and excites children and helps instil critical life skills.

"Constantly wrapping children in cotton wool can leave them ill-equipped to deal with stressful or challenging situations they might encounter later in life.

"Children both need and want to push their boundaries in order to explore their limits and develop their abilities," he added.

The survey found that only 29 percent of children said their most adventurous play had occurred outdoors compared with 70 percent of adults.

This aversion to risk means that kids now have to find their adventure in controlled environments such as playgrounds, theme parks and inside their homes.

The survey polled 1,030 young people aged 7-16, and 1,031 adults

Full article from AFP website