VIEWERS have expressed their shock over two-year-old’s wielding machetes in other countries while youngsters in the UK barely spend any time outside.
A bunch of under-sevens were let loose on the streets of the capital as part of an experiment on ITV’s three-part Planet Child series.
Planet Child ITV
As part of the show researchers explored how children in other countries grow up.
A Japanese schoolboy, six, made his own way to school via a bus and the train, while Uuakhuihe, seven, and his five-year-old brother in Namibia were give machetes.
Viewers took the Twitter to express their shock at youngster drinking from the teat of a goat, and being given weapons.
The youngsters went out to chop some firewood, with their mum revealing she would send out Uuakhuihe when he was two or three.
Planet Child ITV
In comparison, researchers revealed three-quarters of children in the UK spend less time outside than prison inmates.
The grim statistic shocked viewers, with one person saying: “Children of today spending less time outside than prison inmates – so sad.”
Another said: “Shocking to hear that children today spend on average less time outside than prison inmates according to #PlanetChild Remember playing out on the streets as a child and happy my daughter spent her primary years outdoors apart from being in school.”
A third tweeted: “Absolutely shocking that British children spend less time outdoors than prison inmates!!!
Planet Child ITV
Planet Child ITV
Planet Child ITV
“Lovely to see Darcey so happy climbing a tree, simple pleasures & no iPad in sight!”
This person added: “Three quarters of kids in the UK spend less time outdoors than prison inmates because of electronic devices & lack of green spaces.
“Wow. Let that sink in.”
Agreeing, this person said: “Fascinating already but shocked and saddened to hear on average children spend less time outside than prison inmates.”
Planet Child ITV
Planet Child ITV
Planet Child ITV
Planet Child ITV
And someone else commented: “Children of today spending less time outside than prison inmates. What a sad world we live in.”
Taking part to see if they can cope without their parents are Yorkshire cousins Kieran and Rita, five, twins Darcee and Judah, seven, from Sussex, and brother and sisters Leo, seven, Abi, five, and Harleigh, four, from Margate.
The youngsters made up the three groups on the flagship show, which explores children’s capabilities.
Planet Child ITV
Twin doctors Dr Xand and Chris van Tulleken set the teams a series of tasks, starting with finding a café and souvenir shop to finding London Eye via bus.
They said the aim was “to take kids and parents out of their comfort zone”, although they admitted the troupe were “tiny”, and “not your average commuter.”
While there were undercover chaperones and cameras watching the children, the experiment makes the youngsters feel as if they are alone – and see how they’ll cope.
With the groups staggered so they don’t bump into each other, out of all the groups Leo and his two sisters are the first out the gate.
Planet Child ITV
Meanwhile five-year-old cousins Rita and Kieran get distracted by two playgrounds, but they soon get back on track.
And out of the twins, Darcee takes a natural lead, with her brother expressing more caution and missing their parents more.
The project is nerve-wracking for all the parents, with Claire admitting her son has never ridden on a bus by himself before, saying she worries about “someone snatching them”.
Rebecca admitted she had “separation anxiety” as her children set off by themselves.
Planet Child ITV
Growing up in the countryside with 200 acres to roam, Kirean has the most freedom of all the children.
His mum Laura, said: “As long as he’s outside within hearing reach, so to speak, he can do what he wants.”
But she admitted: “It scares me a bit taking him to big cities. Because it’s so different for him, all the hustle and bustle.”
All the groups managed to resist getting off the bus early, and make it to the rendezvous point at the London Eye, after navigating by themselves for roughly an hour.
At the end of the experiment, all nine children seemed pleased with their performance, and felt it had helped them develop.
Planet Child ITV
Darcee said: “We were on our own and it felt like we were bigger than what we are.”
And Leo praised his sisters, saying: “I feel proud of them not me. Because they’re younger I thought they’d be crying.”
With the experiment a success, Dr Xand said: “We’re not saying stick your kid on a bus unattended, but if you can give them freedom, unsupervised play, it’s so important to help them develop all those skills they’ll need throughout their lives.”
While his brother added it was about “keeping kids as safe as necessary.”
The next episode of Planet Child airs on Wednesday on ITV at 9pm.
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