So British children watch more television than their European counterparts ( 'TV ruining children's ability to play', Guardian, Dec 6).

It is a worrying fact of modern life, as your article states, that there is currently a lack of things to do outside the home for many reasons.

In some cases, it is because their parents, who spend most of the day at work, simply cannot be bothered to spend time with their children.

In most, I suspect, it is because of the dangers posed by society.

We constantly read horror stories about child abductions, child abuse and child murder.

Parents simply will not risk letting their children out to play unsupervised.

And then there is the TV-obsessed, computer culture which has emerged in place of the lack of opportunities. Children now have a television set and/or a games console from a very early age.

Games are becoming more advanced, and more challenging, even if TV is not. It comes as no surprise to find parents competing against, or playing along with, their children in front of a games console.

As fun as this may be, however, and I have to confess to playing football and driving games with my son on many occasions, we should not forget about the outside world and the opportunities for learning it provides.

As your article states, 'play is what children do in order to learn about life. If we don't get the balance back, our society will end up much poorer as a result'.

Surely, they are words of warning well worth heeding by our current generation.

J Cox

Hithermoor Road

Stanwell Moor