Press Release

LATEST FIGURES SHOW DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN CHILDREN PLAYING IN THEIR LOCAL STREETS

Figures released today for Playday 2007 show that regularly playing outdoors near home is much less common for today’s children than for previous generations. An ICM survey commissioned by Play England for Playday shows that 71 per cent of adults played outside in the street or area close to their homes every day when they were children, compared to only 21 per cent of children today.

Both children and adults considered traffic to be the main factor that stops children and young people playing or spending time in the streets or areas near their homes, with nearly 1 in 4 children and 35 per cent of adults listing it as one of their top three barriers to street play.

29 per cent of under-18s and 39 per cent of adults said that more play spaces would make children and young people play on the streets and areas near their homes more often. Less danger from traffic was the second most popular solution given by adults (23 per cent), and children put less traffic in their top three solutions.

Now in its 20th year, Playday is the annual celebration of children’s right to play, when over 100,000 children across the UK join in hundreds of play events in their neighbourhoods. This year’s theme – Our streets too!  – highlights that children want and need to play in their local streets – and have the right to be there. Events, on 1 August 2007, will include traditional street games, pavement art, skateboarding and cycling, and will take place at street parties and large community events in local parks.

‘It should be a big concern to everyone that adults tell us they were more than three times more likely to play out when they were young than children are today. The space to play and the freedom that children have to enjoy it has diminished to the point that many children are being effectively raised in captivity,’ said Adrian Voce, director of Play England. ‘The decline in child-friendly public space, the increase in cars on our roads and the demonisation of children and young people are all factors hindering children’s opportunities to play.

‘The street or area where they live is – or should be – an essential part of a child’s home life, it is where children have played for time immemorial, but the modern world is making streets into a no-go zone for children. Government, local authorities and adults collectively need to do more to ensure that children don’t miss out on the essential childhood experiences that form many adults’ happiest memories.’

To mark Playday, Play England has published a body of research, which looks at attitudes towards street play and the benefits it brings, it also investigates the barriers children and young people face, and outlines what we should be doing to compensate for the decline in recent years.

Also available are top tips for parents and other adults on encouraging and supporting children to play outside near their home and in their community.

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