Parents and children want more time to play together

The Play England research found that more than half of parents felt that work or other unavoidable commitments prevented them from playing with their children or taking them to places to play as much as they would like.

Meanwhile children reported that not having enough time to play made them feel bored (77 per cent), miss their friends (68 per cent) and unhappy (52 per cent).

Parents also claimed the lack of safe places for children to play in their area had a profound effect. This was particularly true with low income families.

The research also found that children felt homework and extra curricular activities impacted on their free time. Nearly half of adults agreed and said that children should go to fewer extra curricular activities.

Parents recognised that without enough time to play their children were more likely to misbehave, feel bored and unhappy.

When asked what should happen for children to have more time to play, 66 per cent of parents said they would like flexible working arrangements and 76 per cent said they would like more places for children to play independently.

Adrian Voce, director of Play England, said, ‘Children and adults alike are telling us that the pressures of modern life are restricting time for children to play and that this makes them unhappy. Play is vital for children’s health, learning and development. Most importantly, play is fundamental to their enjoyment of childhood; it can’t be taken for granted. All of us, not just parents, have a part to play in allowing and supporting children to play.’

The survey by ICM of 1,037 adults and 1,030 children aged seven- to 14-years-old was commissioned by Play England to mark the annual celebration of children’s right to play. The research focuses on the impact of adults and children’s commitments on children’s time to play.

www.playday.org.uk