New book aiming to get girls outdoor again

London, Feb 10 : A new book is hoping to reinstate the innate characteristics of girls that have vanished over the years, thanks to Internet, computer games and reality television.

The new trends have forced the young ladies to shun the playground and become a couch potato, and have made them ditch their favourite outdoor games like hopscotch, cat's cradle and hula-hooping.

And looking at the alarming situation, a book called for young ladies and tomboys alike has been written that aims to get girls outside again and reacquaint them with the simple skills of skipping, climbing trees, playing tag and paddling canoes.

The Daring Book for Girls, billed as a 'can-do, how-to manual for every girl with an independent spirit and a nose for adventure', provides girls with practical guidelines on how to change a tyre, whistle with two fingers and put your hair up with a pencil.

Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz's book is a response to 'The Dangerous Book for Boys' - the bestseller that exalted treehouse-building and making paper hats and water bombs among other nostalgic pastimes.

The book for girls also feature hints on DIY and self-defence, with illustrated chapters on assembling a toolbox and 'essential karate moves.'

The authors said that they wrote it as an antidote to 'high-pressured and competitive 21st-century girlhood' where 'girls are inducted into grown-up-hood sooner, becoming teenagers and adult women before their time'.

"With the convenience of modern technology, lots of girls have simply forgotten how to go out and do things, make things and fix things, and we wanted to address that," the Telegraph quoted Buchanan, as saying.

Dr Jane Prince, a psychologist specialising in childhood development from the University of Glamorgan, said: "Children do not get the chance to go out and play in the way they used to because parents have become so risk-averse and have made television and the Xbox the new babysitters.

"Girls and boys should be encouraged to combine developing their physical and mental skills with taking a bit of a risk by just getting outside and climbing trees or playing with friends," Prince added.

Sue Palmer, an educational consultant and the author of 'Toxic Childhood,' said that she is looking forward to the book as a 'positive tool to draw girls away from the sedentary, screen-based entertainment', which is favoured by so many kids.

"Over the past 30 years, we have managed to squeeze the whole business of play and activity out of childhood," she said.

"We need to remember that the social, emotional and cognitive development of any child depends on actually going out into the real world, getting grubby and learning that he or she can be independent and resilient," she added.

The book, targeting readers from 'eight to 80' also gives suggestions on boosting wages in a chapter entitled 'How to Negotiate a Salary'.

The book, which has already sold more than a million copies in America, is being published in Britain later this month.

ANI