DCSF cites new play opportunities for Playday and future
More than 300,000 children will have access to new and improved play sites this summer, children's minister Dawn Primarolo said today, as thousands of children across the country celebrated national Playday (5 August).
More than 530 new play areas have been opened since last year in 63 local authorities.
The DCSF has published a regional breakdown of what each local authority, working with local partners and communities, is expected to deliver by 2011.
Ms Primarolo said, 'We have released this information to make families aware of the number of play sites coming to their area over the next couple of years. Local authorities and play associations are working really hard to deliver some excellent play opportunities across the country. It is really exciting to think that by 2011, as many as 1.5 million children could have access to new and improved play areas.'
Earlier this week Play England published a survey that found that nearly three- quarters of parents want more time to play with their children.
More than half of the parents responding told Play Engand they 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 feel unhappy (52 per cent). They also said homework and extra curricular activities impacted on their free time.
Parents, particularly those on low incomes, said the lack of safe places for children to play in their area had a profound effect.
Parents reported that without enough time to play their children were more likely to misbehave, feel bored and unhappy.
When asked what they wanted to happen, 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 was commissioned by Play England to mark the annual celebration of children's right to play. For details go to www.playday.org.uk
