Are we forgetting how to play?
Children are being prevented from playing outdoors by intolerant adults who
claim they cause a noise or a nuisance, says research launched for Playday
(August 6 2003).
In one case an eight-year-old girl in West Somerset was stopped from cycling
down her street because a neighbour complained the wheels squeaked. And a boy,
in Liverpool, was banned from bouncing his tennis ball against an unused garage
wall, in case it damaged the bricks.
The findings come as more than 100,000 children celebrate National Playday at
events across the UK. It is co-ordinated by The Children’s Society and the
Children’s Play Council, and supported this year by the LEGO Company.
The charities are urging adults to let children get out and play following
The Children’s Society research revealing a surprising level of adult
intolerance to children’s play in public.
Of the 2,600 children and young people, aged seven to 16, questioned for the
Playday survey two-thirds say they like to play outside daily, mostly to meet
friends. But:
- Four in five (80%) say they have been told off for playing outdoors
- Half (50%) say they have been shouted at for playing out.
- One in three (32%) aged 7-11 say being told off stops them playing
outdoors
- 11-year-olds say they are told off more than any other age group.
Tim Linehan, The Children’s Society’s spokesperson, says: “Playing outdoors
is a fundamental part of everyone’s childhood, but that is being threatened by a
culture of intolerance towards children’s play in public. We are in danger of
letting grumpy grown-ups tidy our children away. “
Tim Gill, the Children’s Play Council’s director, says: “Children want to get
out and play; it’s healthy and good for them. Everyone agrees children should be
able to play safely near their homes. But too often a ‘not in my back yard’
attitude denies children the chance to have fun and meet with their friends,
stifling their social development.“
And the charities are concerned that neighbours’ complaints and byelaws could
be banishing children from our streets. Disturbing reports of play bans include:
- Plans to put up a netball hoop on a village green blocked because
residents didn’t want to attract children. (Oxfordshire)
- Skateboard park refused planning permission due to residents’ objections-
despite a 1,500 signature petition and £100,000 raised by children. (Cumbria)
- 115 No Ball Games signs on one housing estate where four out of five play
grounds were also shut down (North West)
The Playday findings are backed by Helen Woolley, urban spaces expert at
Sheffield University, who says: “There is evidence of an increasing number of
byelaws against skateboarding or bike riding and restrictions on children
playing in public spaces. This is socially excluding children from playing in
our towns and cities. What are public spaces for if not to bring the community,
including children, together?”
Started in 1987, the 2003 Playday is being supported by the LEGO Company,
which believes that all children have a right to play. Søren Torp Laursen, the
company’s senior vice president for Europe North, says: “Play is essential for
human development yet, ironically, as the world develops, play is being squeezed
out of childhood and squeezed out of life. It’s time to reverse that trend.”
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