Playing the Health Game
As I stand and watch the two boys twist, run and shout across the field I realise that their ages are a mystery to me. They could be 12 or 20 in the open fields, flying a large outdoor remote controlled aeroplane screaming: “catch it, catch it”.
Apparently, according to an overview of child well-being in 40 rich countries carried out by Unicef, our children are struggling, in all senses of the word. The UK was placed at number 21 in the league and the Children’s Commissioner for England, Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green, said: “We are turning out a generation of young people who are unhappy, unhealthy, engaging in risky behaviour, who have poor relationships with their family and their peers, who have low expectations and don’t feel safe.”
Julie Kenark, 55, mother of Danny, 14, and Stuart, 16, is found in a rare state of quiet reflection up on the hills while her boys chase planes. She explains: “I think the survey is spot on. It’s so nice to see these two like this but it’s rare. (more…)
