Raisingkids.co.uk supports The Daily Telegraph campaign

Experience of the Real World
As families are materially better off so their children have more things at home to keep them entertained and they spend less time in the wider community and see less of their own environment. Opportunities to experience nature – even in an urban setting, to meet unsupervised with other children and develop relationships beyond the supervision of concerned adults, are shrinking.

What are children missing? How about, fresh air, adventure, exercise, freedom, learning to manage risk, settle their own arguments, street games, nature trails, knowing where their food comes from and how it is produced? Moving through their own environment, making friends, making their own decisions without reference to any adult - all this helps a child grow independent and confident.

But that's not the real world for most of us. General concerns and fear about traffic, fear of strangers, aggressive and abusive teen gangs, vandalised parks and playgrounds make it easy to understand why many parents are both concerned and yet relieved that their children spend so much time at home.

Schooling
The authors of the letter feel that school has become a stressful and competitive environment, with children getting involved in formal teaching at an ever earlier age. All of the measuring and testing makes children and their parents anxious, not to mention the teachers, and creates a climate where it's difficult to stimulate a love of learning.

We're not advocating a return to the situation in which no-one knew how many children were able to read, but there should be more room in the curriculum for creative and imaginative approaches to learning.

Regular Interaction with Real Life Significant Adults
This is the most important thing a child needs.

Children need loving, nurturing interaction from the people around them if they are to develop emotionally and intellectually. Babies can't be rushed. They need to be held, to be talked to, to be played with. Toys and television programmes are no substitute for a loving adult talking, singing and playing with a growing child.

The trust and sense of security that comes from feeling loved and nurtured, gives the child emotional strength to go forward and explore the world. What any child wants is two-way communication with someone who cares rather than being a passive recipient of screen entertainment.

What Do You Think?
Do you agree with us? Or have we got it all wrong? Click here to discuss this subject on our forums.

And to read the original letter to the Telegraph, click here.

• Standing Up For Childhood - Page One
• Raisingkids' Back To The Table campaign