In my view - Throw new light on play
Jan Cosgrove, national secretary of Fair Play for Children, the campaign for the Child's Right to Play
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
The play needs of children in darkened winter months have been ignored in the debate about whether or not clocks should be put back. At the end of October each year, children face a situation that worsens in the following weeks when they are unable to go out for the healthy outdoor play they need because of the early darkness.
This hour or two after school is, for many, the only sustained period they have for outdoor play. Research has shown that it is this sort of activity, coupled with walking home from school, which is the best form of exercise, trumping even organised sport in school time.
The Government ought to take up this issue seriously, for children make up 20 per cent of the population and fears about their health and exercise have grown rapidly in recent years.
Our UN Convention obligations say that a) we must put their welfare first and b) we ought to ask them their views. That is what we want to see advocates such as the Children's Commissioners put in hand soon, as to whether they feel this would benefit them.
We know, of course, that no one can dismiss the Scottish dimension. My personal thoughts? Is this the time when, with increasing national Parliament autonomy for Scotland, we should think outside the framework? Either Scotland maintains the current system when the other three UK countries change, or even a change to school start/finish times in the winter period so children there can benefit from light hours after school in that period of the year.
This is no idle issue. Children's health and wellbeing are at stake in large measure. The Government says children need 60 minutes of exercise a day. Many children do not get this, and one major overlooked reason is this winter issue of early dark evenings. Common sense says parents will welcome extra evening light in this period of the year, both for their children's play and for their safety. Changing the current rigmarole will benefit our children.
