Top kids writer disagrees with fears for childhood

In recent weeks there has been an outpouring of attacks on modern children's lifestyles from a variety of academics, child development experts and other writers. Criticism has centred on computer games and television, suggesting today's children have less freedom and less creativity than previous generations. Allied to the perception that a junk food generation is being reared, these critics fear for the future, worried that tomorrow's adults will be overweight, depressed and lacking in both imagination and exercise. In fact, Raisingkids.co.uk's founder, Dr Pat Spungin, was one of the signatories of the Telegraph letter which sparked off much of the debate.

To help that debate along we're happy to show another point of view - that of children's author GP Taylor. The best-selling author of 'Shadowmancer' thinks we're wrong and claims 21st century kids are no worse than their predecessors. Mr Taylor is currently touring schools and leading creative writing sessions. From his experiences he says he fails to recognise a picture of modern children as 'dull' or 'boring.' And he reckons the criticisms are no different from half a century ago. 'It's nostalgic claptrap, it's tosh, this idea that we should go back to the 1950s. Because even in the 1950s, people were saying 'the radio is terrible, it's leading young people astray,' says Taylor.

'Kids have got incredible imaginations - and I don't think for a minute that videogames, television and movies are dampening their imaginations - in fact, they're broadening their imaginations and developing their characters. Whatever is about at the time will stimulate children in different ways.'

Taylor scoffs at suggestions that childhood is becoming lost because of technology. He says his time is spent with children who talk about CS Lewis, Lord of the Flies and Lewis Carroll just as much as their parents and grandparents did. Lambasting the 'old guard' who go round saying 'woe is the world.' Taylor asserts 'The kids are as creative now as they ever have been.'

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