Latest Parenting NEWS from MumsNet

Parents are too scared to let children play outdoors, according to a survey released to mark Playday 2012. Nearly half of the 1,000 parents polled were worried about strangers and 30% feared injuries. (London Evening Standard)

Children's charity Barnardo's and the Department for Education agree that children's misbehaviour at school is likely to be a result of problems at home or special needs that need to be identified. Government adviser Charlie Taylor has said the number of students requiring extra support is increasing. (BBC)

Research by the Advertising Standards Authority has found that campaign adverts by charities are upsetting children. Almost a third of the 11 to 16 year olds surveyed said an advert had made them feel sad or worried. (Telegraph)

Cases of whooping cough in England and Wales have shot up from 311 this time last year to 2,500 cases this year. The Health Protection Agency is concerned by the surge in infant cases as the infection can lead to more serious complications in the very young. (BBC; join the discussion on Talk)

Planned changes to the child protection system will take pressure off local authorities but could put more vulnerable children at risk, warns campaign group Every Child in Need. Organiser Steve Broach said taking away minimum standards was "dangerous and irresponsible". (BBC)

And finally... a couple who won £161m in a lottery draw last year are buying a new prosthetic leg for Kieran Maxwell, a 13-year-old Olympic torchbearer who lost his leg to cancer. (Sky News; join the discussion on Talk