Press Release

Fun, friends and freedom – children speak out on play

Tuesday, August 19 2008

Children and young people have identified freedom, socialising with friends and active outdoor fun as vital to play in a new report published by Play England and the Children’s Commissioner for England.  

The report ‘Fun and Freedom’ analysed a sample of local authority play strategies to examine how local authorities seek the views of children and young people around play.  

For most children, freedom, physical activity and areas which encourage them to socialise, were crucial elements in good play provision. Opportunities to engage in active, outdoor play were the strongest and most consistent messages from youngsters. The popularity of parks and open spaces was partly dependent on the activities and equipment they contain, but for most of the children being outside in a natural space was important in its own right.

However, barriers to play continue to exist and many children raised concerns about road traffic, bullying, peer-racism, stranger danger, and negative adult attitudes towards them socialising, for example, by erecting ‘No Ball Games’ signs.

The report makes recommendations to local authorities, the Government and professionals to help them continue to listen to and act on what children and young people say about play.

For more information visit www.playengland.org.uk