Nursery World - Play spaces must be kept open, or children will suffer, sector warns

Many children will remain in perpetual ‘lockdown’ unless playground closures are tackled, the Association of Play Industries (API), has warned.

'Playground closures are 'catastrophic for children’s mental health, fitness, development and well-being', says the API

Exercise for children means outdoor play, but the play sector trade body is highlighting that many children are being denied this with some local authorities closing playgrounds, contrary to Government guidance. Children’s mental health, fitness, development and wellbeing is being negatively impacted as a result.

When public playgrounds were closed in the first lockdown, it brought their ‘essential’ status sharply into focus because the majority of UK children live in urban areas and one in eight households have no outdoor space. It left millions of children with nowhere to play, with those from disadvantaged backgrounds most affected.

Currently, despite Government guidelines to keep playgrounds open in lockdown primarily for those families without gardens, some authorities are failing to do so. The API warns that children were increasingly being ‘driven indoors’ long before lockdown due to the combined effects of widespread closure of play spaces and an increase in screen time.

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