Introduction

Should teachers take children on foreign trips? Should parents allow their children to walk to school or play out at night? Should all adults who want to volunteer their time to work with children be vetted before we allow them to do so? Are strangers a danger? And what about grooming on the internet?

Today the question of child safety is at the forefront of most of the relationships and activities we carry out with children. But how 'at risk' are children and young people?

Concerns about child safety have led to many changes in the way teachers teach, parents look after their children and play workers think about 'safe' play. But to what extent are these developments assisting or limiting the development of children and young people? And what impact is the constant concern about 'child safety' having upon adults and society as a whole?

Safety has always been an issue for those involved in teaching, working with and looking after children. But today the question needs to be asked: "Has child safety gone too far?"

In 2005 Generation Youth Issues organised a conference titled Cotton Wool Kids? Making sense of 'child safety' in an attempt to understand the issue of child safety and to establish a balance between the freedom and safety necessary for the development of healthy young people. The post-conference brochure, including contributions from the speakers, can be found here.

The sessions and speakers

Session One: Making Sense of Child Safey

Keeping children safe from harm has been a concern for adults in society for centuries. However, today, 'child safety' impacts on the world of adults and children in a way never seen before. With the emergence of what has been called 'paranoid parenting', and a 'culture of litigation', child safety has become an increasing concern and organising principle for how adults and institutions relate to young people. But why has this developed and what are the negative effects on the lives of children?

Frank Furedi and Christina Hoff Sommers tackled the issue.

Session Two: Risk Management

Risk management has developed as an influencial practice in most institutions and especially those in charge of children and young people. Often regarded as a practical and positive approach to ensuring health and safety, concern has emerged about the overly cautious and limiting affects that this may have on children's lives.

Kate Abley, Sarah Thomson and Dan Lloyd considered the matter.

Session Three: Streetwise or Safe

Today 'play' is rarely promoted without the prefix 'safe', while the Internet is increasingly seen as a potential danger to young people. So what are the risks that children face when unsupervised and how can we balance the desire for freedom with the concern for safety?

Tim Gill and John McKendrick examined both sides of the discussion.

Media comments

Children are 'living in a security state' in the TES
Red ink banned for being traumatic by Elizabeth Buie in the TES