Press Release

Fun, friends and freedom – children speak out on play

20 August 2008

Children and young people have identified freedom, socialising with friends and active outdoor fun as vital to play in a new report published today by the Children’s Commissioner for England and Play England.  The report ‘Fun and Freedom’ has examined how local authorities seek children and young people’s views around play and whether these views are listened to in the development of local play strategies.

The report is published on the day the Government ends its consultation to find out what children themselves want from play and how best to design areas to socialise with their peers.

The Children’s Commissioner and Play England analysed a sample of local authority play strategies. Using a variety of methods to draw out experiences and definitions of play, authorities across the country have captured tens of thousands of children’s views to inform their strategies. 

The report found that, for most children, freedom, physical activity and areas, which encourage them to socialise, are crucial elements in good play provision.  Opportunities to engage in active outdoor play were the strongest and most consistent messages from the youngsters. The popularity of parks and open spaces was partly dependent on the activities and equipment they contain, but for most of the children being outside in a natural space is important in its own right.

However, barriers to play continue to exist and many children raised concerns about road traffic, bullying, peer-racism, stranger danger, and negative adult attitudes towards them socialising, for example, by erecting ‘No Ball Games’ signs.

The most commonly identified single barrier to children enjoying play was physical distance. For disabled children in particular, accessibility problems can stop them going out and having fun with their friends and peers.

In ‘Fun and Freedom’, Play England and the Children’s Commissioner makes recommendations to local authorities, the Government and professionals to help them continue to listen to and act on what children and young people say about play.

Sir Al Aynsley-Green, the Children’s Commissioner for England, said:

“After too many years of neglect, play is finally starting to get the attention it deserves. More importantly, many children and young people now have a say about where they play and how spaces should be designed to meet their needs. I am grateful to the local authorities who shared their consultations with children and young people with us for this research. It gave us useful insight into the value being placed on children’s views about play. I hope that other organisations will now take forward our observations to improve their dialogue with children in the development of fun, adventurous and age-appropriate opportunities for them to play.”

Adrian Voce, Director, Play England, said: “This report highlights how important play opportunities are, both for children and young people’s social lives and for their chance to be physically active. It also highlights the persistent barriers that many of them face and how crucial it is that local authorities engage with their young communities as fully as possible in addressing them”.