Nursery World - Children prefer to be outside

Outdoor play is the clear favourite of UK children - with 80 per cent them preferring to play outdoors rather than indoors, according to a survey to mark Playday 2006. The Children's Play Council commissioned a research review to examine the benefits of play, and how best to compensate for the recent decline of natural play space. The findings suggest children want more opportunities to play outside, as almost three-quarters of those surveyed said they would like to play out more often.

Outdoor play is the clear favourite of UK children - with 80 per cent them preferring to play outdoors rather than indoors, according to a survey to mark Playday 2006.

The Children's Play Council commissioned a research review to examine the benefits of play, and how best to compensate for the recent decline of natural play space. The findings suggest children want more opportunities to play outside, as almost three-quarters of those surveyed said they would like to play out more often.

Authors Stuart Lester and Martin Maudsley from Playwork Partnerships called for the environmental play provision to be more uniform, with 'sustainable funding, training, networking and strategic support'.

SkillsActive set a good example at a Playday event held in Victoria Park, East London last week. Around 35 community projects attracted thousands of children to enjoy football, hula hoping and parachute games.

Director of playwork Paul Bonel, who attended the event, said, 'The survey clearly highlights that children and young people want more opportunities to play out in stimulating natural spaces where they can have fun and be with their friends and their imagination.'