By Megan Lane BBC News Online

It's National Playday - a day to celebrate the value of play. But has the plight of two missing girls reawakened concerns among parents about letting children do their own thing? It must be every parent's worst nightmare. Holly Wells and her best friend, Jessica Chapman, disappeared on Sunday evening and have yet to turn up.

Holly, left, and Jessica the day they went missing

During a family barbeque at the Wells' Cambridgeshire home, the two 10-year-olds played inside - or so their parents thought.

Many can identify with the families' anguish. Up and down the country, mums and dads cling just that little bit tighter to their own children's hands as they set out for summer holiday activities.

At the same time, the Children's Society marks its long-planned National Playday to encourage both children and their carers not to be overly cautious.

What with fears of injuries due to tree-climbing or skateboarding, and so-called "stranger danger", some parents may be reluctant to let their young ones off the leash.

In a London park on Wednesday morning, knots of children - almost all with at least one adult in tow - make the most of the sunny weather.

Iain, Hannah and Mark have fun in the sun

Iain Wilson of Basingstoke in Hampshire, has brought Mark, 11, and Hannah, seven, in search of locations used in the TV series Only Fools and Horses. He says he's more cautious now.

"Before we got out of the car, I looked around to see if it seemed a safe area. It seems fine, but I wouldn't let them roam around here on their own.

Iain says he doesn't let the children out of the house without knowing where they are going. "Mark is about to start senior school so he'll walk there himself, but I've checked the route he'll take."

When Iain was the same age, he and his brothers ran free. "I grew up in the country. I know weirdoes and perverts roam around there too, but I think there were more deterrents then."

Harriet and Joss King: "Safety is key"

In a nearby play area, Harriet King and her nanny entertain Joss, two-and-a-half, and Inigo, 14 months.

"I don't want to stop them being adventurous, but they have to be safe as well. So I let them decide the route we're going to take to the park, what activities to do. But with children this young, you have to watch them every step of the way.

"While mine are much younger than the girls who've gone missing, my sister lives near Cambridge and has three older children. This has reminded her that safety is key all the way."

Gladys Kalli plays with her grandchildren

Gladys Kalli, of Walthamstow in east London, is babysitting her daughter's children, Rosie, nine months, Bob, three, and Molly, six.

"We like them to be active and do what they like, so long as someone's with them. We don't leave them on their own. I do hope [the disappearance] makes people more cautious."

Elaine Brown, a nursery nurse, is also worried about what might happen to Josh, 10, and Hayley, eight, when she's not around.

Elaine Brown: "Kids don't know what freedom is"

"If they go down onto the back green of our estate, they have to stay within sight of my window. If they venture further away, there's hell to pay. They have to come straight back up and they're grounded for a day or two.

"It's terrible, kids these days don't know what freedom is. But with so many children going missing, I'm too scared to let them out of my sight."

Sue Williams, a spokeswoman for the Children's Society, says young ones need to take risks in safe and well-managed places in order to learn.

Designing out danger in play areas

"We're not saying that parents should be less protective or less caring. Parents should still accompany their children and supervise their play, but what we're asking them to think about is at what stage they step in and say: 'Don't do that'."

Yet for all the fear of what might happen, who might come along when a parent's back is turned, for many children the risks lie closer to home.

The number of "stranger danger" murders has stayed roughly constant in England and Wales in the past 30 years, whereas the numbers killed, abused or neglected by a "loved one" is on the increase.

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Have parents become too protective? Send us your comments using the form below.

I allow my 10-year-old boy to go out on his bike on the estate where we live, and I certainly don't make him stay within sight - that would stop him enjoying himself, exploring and meeting up with other kids. Yes he's pretty defenceless if someone tried to snatch him, but I don't see how I could make him stay in my sight at his age.
D Thomas, Wales

Children here in Japan play outside unsupervised from about five. At first I always went out with my older boy, but was told by several mothers that I was spoiling the group dynamics and interfering with the kids' play. One thing that is very different from England is the sense of group responsibiltiy, so anyone is free to tell off any child. I feel reassured that when my boy is playing at the far end of the complex, there will be a number of eyes on him. When children start school at six, they are grouped with others living nearby and walk together. Along the route are designated houses and shops so that any child in trouble can be sure of getting help. This allow children the freedom and responsibility to walk to and from school by themselves.
Vicky Kobayashi, Japan

A parent can never be too protective but it has to be an even balance. I have two under-fives and we go out and play in the park. I keep an eye on them all the time and dress them in bright colours to spot them easily. The oldest I warn about strangers and if I have to send someone else to collect them, that person has to say a secret password.
Lori, UK

I'm a teenager in London, and I travel to school alone. However, my parents know my route, and I must phone them if I'm delayed. My school recently organised a 3 hour self defence course. It helped me to think more carefully when I am by myself, and to be much more aware of my surroundings.
Lucy E, UK

Yes, there are dangers in the wide world yet I still see unrestrained children bouncing about in cars on the road. Parents often appear to be greater danger than strangers! Are we breeding a national of clueless adults, with no social skills or streetwise common sense?
John Harris, UK

I used to play out for hours on end, climbing trees, making camp fires and riding bikes up and down pit-rucks. I now won't let my lads out unless I know where they are, when they'll be back and insist their mobiles are charged up and switched on. Am I over cautious? Probably, but if I allowed my kids the same freedom I enjoyed 30 years ago, and they got hurt, molested or fell in with the local smackheads, what sort of a parent would I be?
Andy, UK

My daughter, now 13, has been catching the bus to school since she was nine. She is much more streetwise than her classmates. All parents can do is take sensible precautions to minimise the risks. Tying them to your apron strings denies them the chance to grow slowly and make their own judgements.
Helen Howard, England

If we can put tracking systems on our pets, our cars, our mobiles... why not our kids? As much as I want to let my little girl play, I want to stay with her at all times. Human rights groups may say it's not fair for kids to be tracked but what other option do we have with such horrible things happening?
Susana, Cambridge, UK

We should be teaching our children how to respond to situations of danger rather than just not letting them out of sight. Otherwise we'll all lose out in the long run
Iain Alexander, UK

I grew up in Africa. As a kid I ran around barefoot in the bush, hunting for snakes and insects. We waded in rivers with the risk of Bilharzia along with known crocodile sightings in the area. Three years ago - also in Africa - I saw children jump off a 10m waterfall into a pool, cheered on by their teachers. Here, the HSE, social services, EU bureaucrats and other thought police would have prosecute the teachers for letting the children enjoy themselves. England has become a land of soppy softies, paranoid parents and fat over-pampered children.
Colin, England

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