Youth Program Review
Play Skills & Scouting
Two recent articles in daily newspapers have been raising the issue of playing as a developmental process that children should go through, and that perhaps they are not.
In the Herald Sun of Melbourne appeared “Kids lose play skills” (Feb. 26 2014). Children have become so inactive that many have forgotten how to play and put themselves in danger when they do venture outside, sports medicine doctors claim.
In Adelaide’s The Advertiser appeared an article headlined “51 Things your kids need to do before they turn 12” (Feb. 26 2014). “Climb a tree, fall off a bike, build a cubby house, fly a kite – these are among the 51 things to do before you turn 12, according to a new organisation being launched today (in South Australia).”
A number of people have left comments on The Advertiser’s website suggesting that enrolling children in Scouts would go along way to achieving this list of 51.
It got us thinking as part of the Youth Program Review:
- Should the Scout Program reflect this list? (Maybe we could slightly modified number 9!)
- Does it reflect Scouting’s Areas of Personal Growth aims? – Social, Emotional, Physical, Spiritual, and Intellectual development, leading to a well rounded Character.
- Does Scouting have a role to play in teaching kids to ‘play’?
- How does all of this sit for older youth – Ventures, Rovers etc?
- In 21st Century Australia, what should be the Mission, Aims and Principles of Scouts Australia?
