Editor:
The play worlds of children have been usurped and domesticated by well-intentioned parents and bureaucrats who have been rightly concerned about the welfare of children and youth. This intrusion has been compounded by the invasion of commercial playground manufacturers who have had a major part in Disneyfying kids’ play environments.
There is a huge, universal need for public recognition of the child’s right to play as enunciated by UNICEF and other international child advocacy agencies. Essentially, we need to return childhood to our young peoples’ worlds.
One thing we are doing in this regard is to collect stories about childhood play from earlier generations in recognition that we have a societal obligation to preserve our cultural heritage. We need our young people to experience natural play environments and the challenge and adventure that will develop and enhance what Rachel Carson called their sense of awe and wonder. That is our collective task.
Garfield Pennington, Roberts Creek
