I usually think that "the good old days" are retold whilst looking through rose-tinted specs, but in this case I must agree. Children now will not (usually) be allowed free run of their neighbourhood, let alone the surrounding countryside (as I had as a child, and I only lived in Ossy!!).
They will probably never experience whinberry or crab apple picking, I don't remember seeing any kids going conkering, or playing conkers for that matter. Gone are such things as germaline bubblies (!), jawbreakers, popping candy, playing knic-knac (is that how you spell it?), building your bonfire (not sure if this isn't such a good idea!), treehouses and dens, coming home completely charred from too much sun and having to practically bathe in calomine lotion, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.
Too much emphasis is placed on mollycoddling youngsters, and we are in danger of breeding a nation of soft-touch, thrill-loathing cheeky gits!!!!!!!!!!!
