| The learning and development of
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| | become for Australia's youngest
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| Australian kids is under threat because
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| | generation? Six in ten (62%) parents
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| they're not playing outdoors, engaging in
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| | claim that as kids they spent more time
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| constructive, creative play.
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| | playing outdoors getting dirty than their
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| A nationwide Newspoll survey revealed
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| | own children do now, including three in
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| that the average kid is spending at most,
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| | ten who spent more than twice as much
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| just 10 percent of their free time
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| | time outdoors getting dirty as their
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| playing outdoors at home. Alarmingly one
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| | children.
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| in 20 parents (5%) admits when their kids
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| | There is a clear need to rethink how
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| are at home they NEVER play outdoors.
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| | children spend their free time and how
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| Instead the majority of Australian kids
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| | their lives are organised. Australian
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| are spending far more time indoors,
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| | parents are a well-intentioned, anxious,
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| watching television, playing computer
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| | misinformed group. We all care greatly
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| games or playing with toys.
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| | about our children's futures however in
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| Years of research shows that constructive
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| | an effort to give them the best possible
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| play is an essential part of fostering
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| | start in life we are run the danger of
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| inquisitive and strong minds. Playing
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| | robbing of them of childhood that we are
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| outdoors is therefore key to normal
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| | trying to protect.
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| development and lack of exposure to this
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| | For too long Australian parents have been
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| kind of experience may put some children
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| | fed the message that they need to start
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| at a disadvantage.
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| | their children on the educational track
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| Getting messy is how they learn, explore
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| | from an early age. So kids from as young
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| and express their creativity. It also
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| | as two are routinely shunted around from
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| helps them to stay healthy by encouraging
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| | one organised activity to another in an
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| them to exercise and by bolstering their
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| | effort to maximise their development.
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| immune system. Importantly it is through
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| | Parents need to be encouraged to buck the
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| play that children learn to explore
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| | 'clean kid' trend and be less anxious
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| The Newspoll study has revealed that the
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| | about their kids getting messy. But where
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| 'clean kid' syndrome is widespread. Two
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| | to start?
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| in five kids (40%) are permitted by their
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| | Let's start by insisting kids turn off
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| parents to get dirty no more than two or
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| | the TV or computer and get outside more
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| three times per week.
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| | often. In a back to the future move let's
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| And, according to the research it's
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| | introduce some old-fashioned activities
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| mainly because their parents are
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| | such as finger painting, making mudpies,
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| concerned about their child's safety, but
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| | leaf stencilling and generally mucking
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| also because they're worried about
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| | all in the name of good clean fun.
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| cleaning up any mess their kids make.
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| | Importantly, parents need to value the
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| Almost all those parents polled (96%)
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| | simple interactions that they have with
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| said they wanted their kids to excel at
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| | children on a daily basis such as
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| school, in sport and socially, yet
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| | cleaning up a spill together or making a
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| they're reluctant to let them kids get
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| | bed. From my experience parents
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| their hands dirty. One in four (23%)
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| | underestimate the positive impact that
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| youngsters never get the chance to get
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| | these ordinary interactions have on
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| messed up indoors either by cooking or
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| | children.
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| doing craft activities.
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| | And it would be good for the well-being
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| It is clear also that Australian parents
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| | of both parents and kids if they spent
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| underestimate the benefits of free,
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| | some time getting down and dirty
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| unrestricted play for children as most
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| | together. My hunch is that most parents
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| would prefer their children to do
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| | do this anyway but they just don't value
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| homework than play outside.
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| | these messy experiences enough.
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| So, just how restrictive has outdoor play
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