Children should have daily dose of fear, says top headmaster

Anthony Seldon, master of Wellington College, said youngsters are missing out if they are never allowed to overcome feeling afraid.

They learn vital life skills such as compassion and discover more about themselves by facing fear and physical hardship.

But too many children are being wrapped up in cotton wool by schools and parents, and lack any physical exercise, challenge and adventure during the average day.

Dr Seldon, Tony Blair's unofficial biographer, spoke out at an education seminar in Westminster organised by the New Culture Forum, a centre-Right think-tank.

He told The Dangerous Event for Boys that pupils of both sexes need to push themselves and experience the 'challenge of adventure'. They should also learn about endurance, risk and lack of comfort through activities such as rock climbing and night hikes.

Dr Seldon, who is also a political commentator, said: "We don't give our young people nearly enough physical fear and the triumph of overcoming that physical fear, whether on a football field or whether on a long all-night trek.

"We just don't do it and boys need to have it and so do girls."

He added: "An averagely energetic boy who grows up in an inner city in Britain today will have next to no physical exercise during the day, next to no adventure during the day, next to no challenge during the day.

"He'll then go back (home) and there will be very little play in the evening, but there will be a lot of sitting down, a lot of watching television, a lot of being in front of the computer.

"Having sport and physical exercise-and adventure and challenge and difficult things are what helps people to grow."

Speaking afterwards, he insisted that children develop into well-balanced adults by overcoming fear.

"It's through facing fear, facing physical hardship and facing personal deprivation that we learn about compassion, about ourselves, and we grow up," he said.

Dr Seldon believes schemes such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award are essential and would even consider bringing back national service as a way to combat the problem.

"The most fear children get at the moment is through watching violent-films - but that's vicarious," he added. "We need it to happen to them. I think that every child needs this and they need to be doing something physical during the daytime, burning up a lot of energy."

Wellington College, in Crowthorne, Berkshire, charges £25,620 a year for boarders. Former pupils include impersonator Rory Bremner and singer Will Young.

In June, Schools Secretary Ed Balls attacked the 'cotton wool' culture at school and in the home that prevents children throwing snowballs, climbing trees and having conker fights.