What the spongy surface playgrounds don t do is teach kids that there is a consequence to falling, and they won t learn anything from it, said an executive of researcher play:ground NYC.
The study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research into Public Health, was led by professor of child psychology Helen Dodd. It highlighted youngsters are not allowed out to play outside on their own until two years older than their parents generation.
More than 1,900 parents of five to 11-year-olds were asked about their children’s play for the British Children’s Play Survey – the largest study of its kind. They found that children averaged three hours of play a day over the course of a year, around half of which took place outside. And the average age a child was allowed to play outside alone was 10.7 years, while their parents recalled being allowed out before their ninth birthday (8.9 years on average).
The Guardian view on child’s play: help kids be themselves Editorial
Play is under threat. Even before lockdowns closed playgrounds and effectively legislated that children between five and 11 could not meet friends, campaigners were concerned. Playgrounds, where most outdoor play happens, have been declining in number; those remaining are often led by cost and an excessive focus on safety. Crowdfunding is not a long-term answer.
Schools, responding to increasing academic demands and keen to control behaviour, have cut down on playtime: a 2019 study found five- to seven-year-olds have 45 minutes less time to play each week than in 1995, while 11- to 16-year-olds have lost 65 minutes. At least one school has removed the bully from the playground by removing the playground altogether.