So that South Boston Online could deal with Election Day issues, we put aside an issue that caught our eye early in October.  That’s the ban on playing tag (and other “chasing games”) put into effect by the principal of the Willett Elementary School in Attleboro. 

     When we looked at it again, we were told that the playground at Willett was too small to allow such games.  If that is so (we have not checked this ourselves), then it seems to us it was the principal’s call to make – end of issue, even though it got a lot of attention from the media, especially the late-night shows.

     And besides, Attleboro isn’t South Boston – not by a long shot.

     But we looked at it again, and asked ourselves, “Are we coddling our kids these days?”  Perhaps we are, and if so, that’s wrong. 

     One reason that many forms of play are prohibited in schools and playgrounds is the threat of liability.  Even if the plaintiff ends up losing, a liability action consumes enormous amounts of time, money, and energy.  We have heard that insurance firms won’t renew policies unless certain play equipment is removed from the play area, such as high swings, steep slides, and seesaws.  Seesaws?!?.  Sigh-h-h!

     Are there sensible play safety rules?  Of course there are.  Bans on throwing rocks and snowballs in crowded schoolyards have been around for years.  No one is suggesting that a youngster should be allowed to show off boxing or karate skills in the schoolyard – keep those skills in the gym.  And helmet usage on bicycles is essential.  Just ask Charlie Federico at his shop on Emerson Street about that, if you need confirmation.

     But kids play games.  They will run, climb trees, and play sandlot ball, which are all done without supervision and without any protective equipment.  They will try stunts on their skateboards, weave in and out on roller blades, and jump from high places on a dare.  Schools or playgrounds should not be held responsible for this behavior.

     Do you know what the two greatest injury hazards are among children?  Falling at home is number one.  Auto accidents are number two.  If you take this reasoning to its conclusion, then no child should be brought up in a two-story home or be allowed in a car until he/she reaches the age of informed consent (whatever that is). 

     We are not trying to make a joke out of a serious matter like child safety.  We’re simply pointing out that it’s possible to take anything too far.

     There are a couple of other factors regarding children’s play.  Even as adults, we still “play” and “create”.  We call it “kicking back” or “letting off steam” or just “having a hobby”, but it’s play and it’s unstructured.  We treasure our rare moments of “adult play”.  How much more important is that kind of play for a kid’s partly formed personality and creativity?  Ask yourself that question sometime.

     Also, we are correctly concerned about the amount of time spent with the modern-day Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - television, the Internet, cell phones, and video games.  Have you checked out “Bully”, by the way?   And MySpace continues to sweep up the worst of the human race, along with the best.  Perhaps more time spent in highly active, outdoor playing is a partial answer to this problem?

     Finally, no one has to be told about the epidemic of obesity in America.  It affects at least 20% of our children.  Sooner or later, their excess poundage will translate into an epidemic of Type II diabetes and shortened lives.  Diet is only half the answer.  Exercise is the other half of the equation, and most of a child’s exercise comes from active play.

     Ask yourself this question:  “Is my child more at risk from lack of exercise or from play-related accidents?”  We think the answer is obvious.  Having a healthy child, who is well exercised and who loves to play active games, is worth the risk of an occasional schoolyard injury.

     Unfortunately, there is no way to make a kid’s life totally risk-free.  All we can do is keep a logical and loving balance in our children’s activities.  Coddling them is bad for them.