The National Children's Bureau (NCB) commissioned interviews with 1,000children aged seven to 16 and 1,032 adults. They found that over half ofchildren aged seven to 12 are not allowed to climb a tree without anadult present, the local park is out of bounds for 42 per cent, and athird cannot play in the street or ride a bike to a friend's houseunsupervised.
However, the survey found parents more permissive about computers, withover three-quarters of children allowed to surf the internetunsupervised.
This year's theme for the NCB's Playday, celebrating children's right toplay, was 'Give us a go!'. It called for children to be given moreopportunities for adventurous, challenging play, and for society toshake off the 'cotton-wool' culture that limits children's play.
Further information: www.playday.org.uk.
PLAYDAY'S TIPS FOR ADVENTURES
1. Cycling - set off into the woods with a map and a picnic and followthe routes
2. Cool off with a dip in a local pond or stream - make fishing netsusing sticks, netting and wire or string, and wade in the water toexplore
3. Neighbourhood water fights - buckets, balloons and water pistols
4. Camping - pitch a tent in the back garden if it's secure withpillows, books, torches and a midnight feast. Inside dens are also greatfun.
5. Climbing trees - chunky trees with low strong branches are thebest
6. Building fires - go on a mission collecting firewood and teach themhow to light and put out a fire safely. You can grill sausages, roastmarshmallows, sing campfire songs and tell ghost stories.
7. Getting dirty - hide glittery trinkets in the soil and dig fortreasure with gardening tools. Add some water for mud pies.
8. Exploring - take children somewhere they have never been to and letthem go a little further than normal
9. Paint with nature - collect leaves and berries, mash them up, use thejuice for art projects
10. Go-kart building - all you need are some old boards, a good set ofwheels and paints.
