Download PDF - Fair Play For Children

Chapter 1:
What children and families have told
us and what the evidence says
Introduction
1.1
This chapter summarises recent research and statistics on the experiences of children in play,
looking at the benefits of play, activities children are currently undertaking, and barriers
preventing children from playing.
Definition of play
1.2
1.3
We use ‘play’ in this document to describe what children and young people do when they
follow their own ideas and interests in their own way and for their own reasons, balancing fun
with a sense of respect for themselves and others. We asked children what play meant to them,
and they talked about activities inside and outside of the home, including football, playing on
equipment at the park, playing on computers or the internet, watching TV, board games, and
baking cakes.
This consultation is focused on outdoor play – when we asked children about this, they talked
about football, playing in the garden, going to the park, playing in cul-de-sacs, nature walks,
walking their dog, getting muddy in streams, hide and seek, riding bikes, and looking for buried
treasure 9 .
Benefits of play
“It makes me feel free and happy.” (Girl, 10 9 )
“You can get away from adults and decide what you want to do.” (Boy, 10 9 )
“It can help you learn about how not to hurt yourself.” (Girl, 11 9 )
1.4
1.5
We know that children enjoy playing. Research for Playday 2006 showed that 80 per cent of
children surveyed preferred to play outside ii . In a separate survey 86 per cent of parents agreed
that ‘on a nice day their children would prefer to go to the park than watch TV’ iii .
The evidence clearly shows the importance of play in the emotional development of children.
Playing allows children to develop a sense of well-being iv , develops their emotional responses v ,
and improves their interpersonal skills vi . It involves exploration and creativity vii , helping children
9 Plain English Research on Play, Sherbert Research for DCSF and COI, 2008
Fair Play: A consultation on the play strategy
9