The Observer highlights Playday 2007: Our streets too! - reporting, 'It's holiday time, but traffic and 'stranger danger' have driven children indoors.'
BBC magazine cites Playday 2008 research and asks, is traditional rough and tumble schoolyard game British Bulldog about to make a comeback in a backlash against a risk-averse culture?
BBC News online explores what the summer holidays may have in store for children and young people and discusses this year's Playday theme - asking if children now have the opportunity for 'Just William' type adventures enjoyed by generations before.
For half a century youngsters have enjoyed the 10ft slide in the playground, with no more serious mishap than the occasional bruise or grazed knee. The tradition has, however, been brought to an abrupt halt by that modern scourge, health and safety.
A primary school has banned ballet shoes to stop playground accidents. Girls have been banned from wearing ballet pumps to school because their headmistress thinks the shoes are dangerous.
Lenore Skenazy let her nine-year-old travel alone on the New York subway and was branded 'America's worst mom'. She argues that over-protective parents allow fear to cloud reality