As soon as it starts to settle kids are desperate to get out in the snow, roll around in it, chuck lumps at each other and revel in the novelty of a totally different landscape.

But sadly parents these days seem reluctant to allow them this freedom and trot out a whole list of reasons why it isn’t safe.

Maybe they’re influenced by media warnings – a few flakes seems to be enough to spark an Amber weather warning, along with advice to carry a shovel in the car and not to leave home without gloves and two days of rations – but is this the real reason?

At what point was the fun sucked out of everything and common sense allowed to disappear – presumably through an open window we weren’t warned to keep closed?

I know a decent dump of the white stuff is rarer these days but when did we start wrapping our kids in a fluffier, even softer white stuff rather than arming them with facts and then trusting them to look after themselves?

I’ll sound prehistoric when I say from the age of 10 we were allowed out all day, even on our bikes, with one simple warning: "Be back before dark".

After that we were on our own to create our entertainment, look after the others in the group and avoid damaging ourselves too badly. And, if you did get in a scrape your mates were on hand to help, though woe betide any unnecessary whinging as they certainly wouldn’t tolerate that.

'The next perceived threat we hear trotted out is ‘the other dangers’, which is code for paedophiles, as though there’s one waiting around every corner or behind every bush...'

Now I know traffic has increased and a greater percentage of idiots do ridiculous speeds, but we don’t even seem comfortable leaving our kids alone in car-free zones. They just don’t get the freedom we had and, as a result, lack the imagination, survival skills and common sense we naturally developed from an early age.

The next perceived threat we hear trotted out is ‘the other dangers out there’, which is code for paedophiles, as though there’s one waiting around every corner or behind every bush.

The result is yet more molly coddling, half-mile trips in Chelsea tractors and constant observation – yet we wonder why we have a generation of overweight, lethargic kids who display a complete lack of initiative.

The sad reality is the vast majority of sexual attacks on children are carried out by family members or people they know – cases of predatory paedophiles targeting children are incredibly rare and always were. Yes, society is more aware of sexual abuse of children, but there is no evidence it is any more prevalent today.

I realise I’ve strayed off subject a little, but on the rare occasion we actually get some snow these days please allow children the freedom to venture outside and enjoy it.

Believe me, seeking to constantly wrap children up in cotton wool will ultimately prove far more damaging to them than any of the other dangers, real or otherwise, we think they might face.

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