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

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.

‘This unique pause presents us with a rare opportunity to transform our children’s lives through the power of outdoor play,’ said API chair Mark Hardy.

‘By re-imagining our public spaces, we can reverse the alarming decline in the number of public play spaces which has quietly been taking place, local authority by local authority. We must put children at the heart of recovery. Playground closures are nothing short of catastrophic for children’s mental health, fitness, development and overall well-being. If we continue to fail to view communities from the perspective of children there will be more and more closed, neglected and often dangerous environments where there once stood a precious play space created exclusively with children in mind.’

The API welcomes Sport England’s new 10-year vision, ‘Uniting the Movement’ and in particular its ‘Five Big Issues’:

• Recover and reinvent – Place children at the heart of recovery by building a sustainable network of public play spaces.
• Connecting Communities – Playgrounds are often the heart of the community, where parents, grandparents, neighbours and children from all walks of life go to meet.
• Positive experiences for children and young people – Safe, challenging and stimulating play spaces give children the freedom to play, socialise and have fun in a space dedicated to them.
• Connecting with health and wellbeing – Active children become active adults, giving them the lifelong joys and benefits of an active life.
• Active environments –Local and accessible ‘doorstep’ playgrounds make it easier for all children to get active.

 ‘It’s crucial now that we come together as a nation to ensure that everyone has equal access to the benefits of exercise and for children this means outdoor play,’ adds Mr Hardy.

‘We particularly welcome the strategy’s focus on tackling and preventing inequality: community playgrounds are great levellers as open-to-all public spaces in which all children can play freely and safely.’