City Conversations: Overprotected kids, super-safe playgrounds, and health
D minus. That’s the physical activity grade our children earned from Active Healthy Kids Canada’s survey of 14 nations. Prior generations of kids walked to school; now they’re driven. Children used to play outdoors, unsupervised. Now they’re only in organized sports, or watched by hovering parents.
Why this societal change? Why have so many parenting practices become highly risk-adverse? Is our world really more dangerous? Why are so many playgrounds unchallenging and boring? What are the impacts on a generation’s physical and emotional health?
Helping us to explore this topic are Asst. Prof. Mariana Brussoni, Developmental Psychologist at UBC, who has studied the effects of changed attitudes and public policies; and Heather Turner, Director of Recreation and Culture for North Vancouver, who has worked to create more innovative and challenging play environments.
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Thursday, April 16
12:30-1:30 pm
SFU Vancouver, Harbour Centre, Room 1600, 515 West Hastings
Free, no registration required
