THIS year’s Christmas wishlist in our house makes for interesting reading.

“Rope, with carabenirs. Small saw. Hammock (green). Book about knots. WARM hat, no ear flaps….”

It sounds like they are planning to depart on a Ray Mears-style survival trek (although I reckon he would definitely go for ear flaps) - but there is no need for alarm.

The 11-year-old been attending forest school sessions in nearby woodlands since he started school, courtesy of a brilliant local instructor and a visionary headteacher who understood that outdoor learning, exploration and play are just as important as all the classroom-based stuff.

His older brother now volunteers at the sessions, making rope swings, helping to dish out hot chocolate around the campfire and fishing the odd delighted toddler out of a satisfyingly squelchy mud-puddle.

Both boys love this experience and judging by the increasing popularity of the sessions, not just in our home town but around Scotland, they are not alone.

There is a growing understanding that children need their own time and space to play and learn, and of course, the health and wellbeing benefits of simply doing something physical or creative outside in the fresh air are well-documented.

The news this week that prescriptions for psychiatric drugs, including antidepressants and sleeping pills, are growing faster for children aged 10 to 14 than any other age group in Scotland is a horrifying glimpse into the lives of our young people.

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I cannot be the only person who read this and thought: how can we be failing our children so spectacularly?

From the inflammatory subject of whether nursery care for young children has a negative impact on their mental health in later years, to the hideous rise of cyber-bullying, the decisions parents take about the care, education and downtime of their children are informed by a bewildering mix of conclusions. No denying it’s exhausting being a parent, but your only job, surely, is to make those decisions based on what’s best for your child?

It would be naïve to suggest a lack of outdoor play is the only problem, but are we making enough of this simple way to improve mental health?

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After a couple of hours frog-spotting and den-building, the children who come home are so much more at peace with the world. Teachers note that pupils who take part are more confident and calmer when they return to the classroom.

Put it on the curriculum, build it into childcare at all levels, and it will be, at least, a step in the right direction.