THE most basic playground games are being banned in schools because of the risk of children hurting themselves.

Teacher Carol Midwood has listed the activites she has had to call to a halt -- activities which used to part of the process of growing up for earlier generations.

Skipping -- is too dangerous. Children may hurt themselves if allowed to skip unsupervised

British Bulldog -- leads to ostracism of those who cannot run as fast as others and is banned as demoralising and dangerous

Marbles -- leads to arguments and fighting and is not alowed

Card swopping -- Pokemon, for example. Leads to misunderstandings, abuse by the more intelligent children and, as a result, fighting.

Tree swings -- a dangerous activity and now banned after a pupil fell and sprained his ankle

Tag -- children are likely to fall and hurt themselves while trying to run away from their friends.

French skipping -- elastic is dangerous and must be confiscated

Lunchtime talent shows -- lead to ridicule of the less talented. These displays of vanity are now banned

Hide and Seek -- banned after the discovery of a child in a boiler room

Running in the playground -- running is dangerous

Carol asks in the September issue of Reader's Digest: "What on earth are children allowed to do at lunchtime these days?

"Knit, weave raffia, play on computers, paint or play chess!

"Schools mean well, but fear of parents' rights means that children are being denied the right to be children."