No Fear:
Growing up in a risk averse society
“A handbook for the movement for freer, riskier play.”
Ellen Barry in the New York Times“Challenges almost every assumption about contemporary childhood.”
Decca Aitkenhead in The Guardian“Beautifully written […] lays out very simply how we are absolutely screwing the development of children, given our complete paranoid fear of the world we live in.”
Tanya Byron in The Browser (subscription needed)
Published in 2007 by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Portuguese translation available from the publishers.
Ordering No Fear
Reprinted three times – out of print as at August 2023. Meynell Games’ online bookshop has second-hand copies available at reasonable prices. Amazon (average review score 4.7/5) has links to other second-hand booksellers.
Download No Fear
The full publication can be downloaded for free from here (pdf, 3 MB).
Synopsis
No Fear: Growing up in a risk averse society argues that childhood is being undermined by the growth of risk aversion. This restricts children’s play, limits their freedom of movement, corrodes their relationships with adults and constrains their exploration of physical, social and virtual worlds.
Focusing on the crucial years of childhood between the ages of 5 and 11, No Fear examines some of the key issues with regard to children’s safety: playground design and legislation, antisocial behaviour, bullying, child protection, the fear of strangers and online risks. It offers insights into the roles of parents, teachers, carers, the media, safety agencies and the Government and shows how risk averse behaviour ironically can damage and endanger children’s lives. In conclusion, No Fear advocates a philosophy of resilience that strikes a better balance between protecting children from genuine threats and giving them rich, challenging opportunities through which to learn and grow.
Reviews
- “A very welcome antidote to all the wild scaremongering about children’s lives.” Helene Guldberg (author of Reclaiming Childhood: Freedom and play in an age of fear) in Spiked online.
- “A welcome blast of fresh air on a topic that is burdened by adult anxiety and confusion.” Jennie Lindon (author of Understanding Children’s Behaviour 0-11 Years: Linking Theory and Practice) in Nursery World.
- “An excellent resource for advocates of better outdoor experiences… a book to share with the as-yet unconvinced.” Dr Mary Rivkin, University of Maryland, in the American Journal of Play.
- “Compelling. I read it in one sitting and continue to reflect on and share its contents.” Martha Driessnack in Children, Youth & Environments (subscription/behind paywall).
- “Tim’s timely book is a must for anyone lobbying for a more child-friendly public realm.” Alan Sutton in Play Today.
- “A MUST READ for anyone working with or caring for children! Tim Gill’s controversial book provides a thought provoking and challenging read examining the impact of children’s lifestyles today on their futures.” Network of Community Activities, NSW, Australia.
Publisher’s web page for publicity information, book ordering and selected news media coverage.
Rethinking Childhood 