Opinions on nanny state correct

I refer to the article by Liza Radley on March 5, "Wrapping children in cotton wool".

I totally agree with the views of the article and it saddens me that we have become a nanny state.

I have recently completed a course to become a forest school leader and have, as part of my course, studied the forest school philosophy of the Scandinavians.

It focuses on encouraging children's independence in learning in the outdoors. It allows children to risk-take and determine their own abilities and limitations with minimum adult interference.

This, in turn, builds confidence, self-esteem and creates a healthy, trusting adult-child relationship.

I feel that our culture of wrapping children up in cotton wool has inadvertently created an environment of mistrust between children and adults.

In my opinion children have interpreted our good intentions to keep them safe from harm as mistrust in them, their capabilities and ability to use common sense.

How can a child trust an adult if he or she feels that there is little or no trust vested in them?

I feel we have, as adults, lost touch with the current generation of adolescents.

The gulf between teenagers and "thirty somethings" is bigger now than it ever has been and this could have stemmed from as early as when a child first learned to walk.

Paul Luff, Church Stretton