Many times recently, observing my nieces transfixed by their mobile phones, computer or Nintendo games thingy, and the moaning that accompanies any walk more than 100 metres (unless it is around a shopping centre), I have lamented the way today's children miss out on outdoor activities. How sad that street games such as Knock Down Ginger, Tin Can Copper and British Bulldog are presumably being forgotten, prevented by increasing traffic, cotton-wool parenting and technological counter attractions.

Tonight, however, I had cause to question these thoughts. In particular, I wondered whether or not it would not be a greater contribution to mankind - and particularly womankind - to buy every child a laptop, telly for their bedroom and ipod.

Perhaps that would be going too far. It would only be necessary - and cheaper - to render this service to the family a few doors away from me. The family that allows its eldest offspring to try to demolish a shed by beating it with a stick for two hours, whilst its junior members alternatively scream "Chaaaarge!' and "Muuuuum, he hit me with his stick!". The family for whom the words 'discipline' and 'bedtime' are unknown. The family whose parents are either deaf, inconsiderate or locked in a bedroom watching TV, playing a computer or listening to their ipods whilst their children run riot.

The family who might well learn later this evening how Knock Down Ginger used to be played.