[joeysteele]

I as a child liked to be out, I also liked my own space and time in my room too. As has been said by a good few posts a healthy balance is the best thing,however,although I agree with the article in part, at least you know where the children are if they in their rooms on computers or whatever, at least they are safe.

As jf says, there are very odd people around and it's really not that safe for Children now to go to parks or even out of sight of their homes for their own safety,even in their own areas.
Prisoners is a strong term, if children are in their room on comps etc by their own choice, they are far from like prisoners,they can do that as they wish for as long as they wish or stop and do anything else if they want to.
At least they are safe and that's the main thing.

I do though think at mealtimes, they should be with others in the house and get some other stimulation, I do know families where their child comes and gets their meals but takes them upstairs to their room to have them while playing their games or are on the computer, that is something that should not to be encouraged, in my view.