What made this article particularly interesting was the graphic that accompanied it, showing how each successive generation was granted less and less liberty to roam.

The author of the article doesn’t take any technology-related angle, but you would think that with cell phone and GPS related technology that parents might be able to loosen up little bit on the restrictions, but that’s clearly not what’s happening.

I linked this article however, because it hits on another common theme you’ve read about on this blog: Kids need to be connected to nature for their well being.

The report’s author, Dr William Bird, the health adviser to Natural England and the organiser of a conference on nature and health on Monday, believes children’s long-term mental health is at risk.

He has compiled evidence that people are healthier and better adjusted if they get out into the countryside, parks or gardens.

Stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces, he says. Even filling a home with flowers and plants can improve concentration and lower stress.

…”Studies have shown that people deprived of contact with nature were at greater risk of depression and anxiety. Children are getting less and less unsupervised time in the natural environment.

Overuse and reliance on technology can keep kids away from nature. But so can over-protective parents. Perhaps parents are over-protective because they get a steady stream of news that scares the heck out of them.

What are we doing to our future and our children’s futures when we start letting fear make our decisions? Do we risk doing more harm than good? How can we use technology to help alleviate our fears instead of amplify them?