63% OF PARENTS BELIEVE IT IS MORE DANGEROUS TO PLAY
OUTSIDE NOW THAN WHEN THEY WERE CHILDREN
Parents should try and step out of their comfort zone to strike the right balance between
safety and encouraging children to play outdoors, says Make Time 2 Play Ambassador Dr
Linda Papadopoulos
Wednesday 12 June: Nearly two thirds of parents (62.7%) feel there are greater dangers for children
playing outside now than when they were children, according to a study of 2,000 parents surveyed
by OnePoll.com1 on behalf of the Make Time 2 Play campaign.
Increase in traffic was cited as the primary issue causing parents concern, closely followed by the
danger posed by strangers. Parents in the East Midlands are the most laid back, those in Northern
Ireland the most protective and mums worry more than dads.
The top five concerns2 for parents were:
1. Increase in traffic
56.85%
2. Stranger danger
55.15%
3. Inability to monitor children’s activities
38.95%
4. Getting involved in or being confronted by gangs
38.65%
5. Outdoor play prevents children from studying
18.65%
These factors contribute to children playing outside less often than their parents did: only 14.85% of
all parents in the study say their children play outside more than they did. One third (33.65%) thinks
the amount is roughly the same.
The belief that today’s children enjoy less outdoor play increases with older parents. Over a third
(33.68%) of parents aged 18-24 said their children play outside more than they did compared to less
than one in 10 (8.33%) of parents aged 55 and over.
With the longer daylight hours and summer holidays on the horizon, however, this is the time of
year when there are greater opportunities for children to get outside and play and, according to Dr
Linda Papadopoulos, Ambassador to Make Time 2 Play, outdoor play is one essential ingredient in a
varied play ‘diet’ for children.
“Just as we talk of the importance of having your five fruit or vegetables a day for a healthy diet, so
children need a varied play diet,” commented Dr Papadopoulos.
“A varied play diet encompasses structured, unstructured, supervised and unsupervised playtime.
Outdoor play is a vital component of that, helping children to build friendships, solve problems and
explore the world around them.”
The study demonstrated that parents are, on the whole, aware that their children need time
outdoors, with 38.5% concerned that their children do not play outside enough. The majority of
those surveyed showed concern that lack of outdoor play may mean that children do not learn
about risk awareness (55.4%) and could hinder their development of social and communication skills
(54.45%). Over a third of parents (38.5%) are concerned their children don’t spend enough time
playing outside yet, on average, children are playing outside three days a week at this time of year.
Different regions of the UK responded differently. In Northern Ireland, parents tended to be more
concerned with risk factors and take proactive steps to minimise them. East Midlands parents took a
more laissez-faire approach. For example, teaching children road safety is considered most
important in Northern Ireland (94.44% important or very important) and least important in the East
Midlands (74.29% important or very important). And mums think this is more important more than
dads (84.77% of mums across the country think the Green Cross Code important, as against 72.16%
of dads – and this difference between the sexes was reflected in other parts of the survey.)
Despite the fears named above, what actually keeps children indoors in practice is – for 48.5% of all
parents – our British weather. Just remember when it comes to play there is no such thing as the
wrong weather – just the wrong clothes!
Dr Papadopoulos agrees it is difficult to find a balance between keeping children safe and giving
them the freedom they need for healthy independent play, but that it’s important for parents to try
to accept and to confront their fears and, at times, risk leaving their comfort zones.
“Parents do lots of great things with their children,” said Dr Papadopoulos, “but it’s also vitally
important for their development that they are allowed to run around with their friends outside on a
regular basis.”
Notes for editors
1
Source: OnePoll survey of 2,000 parents of children aged 0-15 across the UK carried out between
March 15th-17th, 2013.
2
Respondents were ‘concerned’ or ‘very highly concerned’.
About Make Time 2 Play
Make Time 2 Play aims to promote the value of play as an essential part of a child’s healthy
development.
Research shows that play helps children to develop the skills they will need for later life. Play
allows a child to learn about the world around them, test boundaries and develop the physical and
mental skills they will need throughout their lives.
Find out more at www.maketime2play.co.uk or facebook.com/maketime2play
For more information:
Christina Erskine or Charlotte Le Rougetel
Bastion PR, 14 Great Turnstile, London WC1V 7HH
T: +44 (0) 20 7269 7900
[email protected]
www.bastion.co.uk
Detailed additional results from the Make Time 2 Play survey.
Named activities and the age (in years) in which children are allowed to participate unsupervised,
across all respondents:
Activity
Play in the street
Visit friends in neighbourhood
Visit corner shop
Walk to school/go to school on their own
Leave the immediate street or neighbourhood
Use public transport on their own
Venture into nearest town or city
Average age
9.08
10.36
10.6
10.63
11.02
12.25
12.53
Number of days that children play outside, broken down by region (at this time of year – survey
conducted in March):
Region
Yorkshire and the Humber
Northern Ireland
West Midlands
East Midlands
South-west
South-east
North-west
London
North-east
Wales
Scotland
Average no days played outside
3.39
3.28
3.13
3.11
3.05
3.03
3.1
2.99
2.99
2.91
2.75
Concerns of parents re a sample of named disadvantages of children being kept indoors, across all
respondents:
Disadvantage of lack of outdoor play
Lack of independence means they won’t fulfil potential
They will not learn about risk awareness
Affects social and communication skills
Weight issues/health problems
Concerned or very concerned
56.2%
55.4%
54.45%
50.45%
The same concerns, broken down by region. Figures here show respondents who were concerned or
very concerned:
Weight and health
N Ireland – 67.89%
North-east – 55.5%
South-east – 53.94%
South-west – 53.85%
Yorks & Humb – 53.36%
Wales – 52.34%
London – 50.93%
West Mids – 48.26%
North-west – 47.01%
East Anglia – 47%
Scotland – 46.35%
East Mids – 38.57%
Social skills
N Ireland – 69.44%
Wales – 61.68%
Yorks & Humb – 61.05%
North-east – 60%
West Mids – 57.71%
South-west – 57.69%
Scotland – 56.29
London – 53.60%
East Anglia – 53%
South-east – 51.34%
North-west – 49.15%
East Mids – 37.14%
Potential not reached
Yorks & Humb – 61.06%
North-east – 58.89%
London – 58.53%
N Ireland – 58.33%
South-east – 57.76%
Wales – 56.08%
West Mids – 55.72%
Scotland – 55.63%
South-west – 53.85%
North-west – 53.42%
East Anglia – 53%
East Mids – 41.42%
Risk awareness
East Anglia – 61%
North-east – 58.89%
N Ireland – 58.33%
London – 57.29%
Yorks & Humb – 57.18%
Wales – 57.01%
South-west – 55.49%
South-east – 54.54%
West Mids – 52.73%
North-west – 52.56%
Scotland – 49.01%
East Mids – 45.17%