NEWS ARCHIVE

See how Playday hit the national headlines in previous years.

 

2010

 

Many 'fearful of helping children in need'

2 Aug

BBC online reports on the Playday 2010 research, highlighting that many people fear helping a child in need in case witnesses think an attempt is being made to abduct the youngster.

 

Would you step in to help a child?

2 Aug

BBC online's 'Have Your Say' asks readers to debate the issues raised by the research findings, posing the question: 'Would you step in to help a child?'

 

Half of men steer clear of children in trouble for fear of being branded paedophiles

3 August

The Daily Mail explores the 2010 Playday research and highlights that nearly half of men would be too scared to help a child in need because they fear being branded a paedophile.

 

2009


2009 media highlights included The Observer, the Telegraph, Sky News and BBC online.

Most parents cannot find enough time to play with their children

2 August

The Observer explores the 2009 Playday research and says that head teachers, academics and parents agree that parents cannot find enough time to play with their children.

Not enough time to play, say parents

3 August

The Guardian quotes Playday 2009 research and Play England Director, Adrian Voce.

Busy parents 'unable' to play with their children, survey claims

3 August

The Telegraph highlights the Playday 2009 research and that busy parents are unable to play with their children.

Do parents of larger families face discrimination?

5 August

Sky News featured the 2009 Playday research and posed the question, ‘Do parents of larger families face discrimination?’

Make time for play, schools urged

3 September 2009

BBC News online quotes the Playday 2009 research, highlighting the importance of children having time to play during school hours.

 

2008


2008 media highlights included BBC Radio 5 Live, Radio 1, features on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, BBC Breakfast, GMTV, Newsround and The One Show. The campaign was featured in Daily Mirror, Sun, The Guardian, The Observer, The Telegraph, The Independent, The Times, BBC News online, Newsround online and had wide-ranging local press, radio and television coverage and also international coverage.

In 2008 Playday featured on the Persil’s summer national television and cinema advertising campaign. The partnership also featured in national magazines, newspapers, radio and online.


The return of British Bulldog
2 September
BBC magazine cites Playday 2008 research and asks, is traditional rough and tumble schoolyard game British Bulldog about to make a comeback in a backlash against a risk-averse culture?

When the wide world was our playground
6 August
Keith Waterhouse comments on this year's Playday theme and reflects on his own childhood play experiences.

Risky play prepares kids for life
6 August
The Guardian features director of Play England, Adrian Voce, discussing the Playday Give us a go! campaign.

Are you allowed to play out?
4 August
CBBC Newsround features the Playday 2008 research and asks children and young people: Do you think it's more important to be safe or would you like to do more things without an adult?

Conkers bonkers
4 August
The Daily Mirror features Playday 2008 research. It says children are not being allowed to take part in adventurous play by their over-cautious parents.

Over-cautious parents stop play
4 August
The BBC covers the Playday 2008 research. It says children are being denied adventurous play because their parents are nervous about exposing them to risk.

Parents too serious about fun and games
4 August
The Telegraph runs an indepth piece on Playday 2008 research. Discussing that parents who wrap their children in cotton wool and curb their sense of adventure risk turning them into adults who struggle to deal a challenge.

The end of playtime?
4 August
The Independent features Playday 2008 research, citing that play time is over for children, with up to half of youngsters banned from climbing trees, playing conkers or riding their bikes by over-protective parents who are terrified that they might get hurt.

Cotton wool parenting 'is holding our children back'
4 August
The Daily Mail features Playday 2008 research, discussing that over-protective parents are harming their children's development by banning them from 'dangerous' pursuits such as climbing trees.

Kids need the adventure of 'risky' play
3 August
The Observer features the Playday 2008 research, reporting that parents harm their children's development if they ban tree-climbing or conkers.

In praise of summer mischief
17 July
BBC News online explores what the summer holidays may have in store for children and young people and discusses this year's Playday theme - asking if children now have the opportunity for 'Just William' type adventures enjoyed by generations before.

 

2007


Headliners at East London Playday
5 August
Headliners attended East London Playday in Victoria Park. They filmed a report on this year's Playday theme 'Our streets too!' - asking children and young people at the event about play in their local neighbourhood.

Kaiser Chiefs support Playday
1 August
Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs have voiced their support for Playday and highlighted concerns over the lack of opportunities for children to play out.

Adrian Voce joins the Today programme
1 August
Radio 4's Today programme invited Play England director Adrian Voce to discuss the Playday campaign.

Adrian Voce comments in the Guardian
31 July
In the Guardian, Adrian Voce voices his support about the government's new bonkers-for-conkers approach.

Woman's Hour
31 July
Woman's Hour's Jane Little talked to Adrian Voce, asking, 'Is it unsafe and anti-social to play in the street?'.

APF coordinate Playday in Prison
31 July
Action for Prisoners’ Families is coordinating Playday in Prison, an innovative scheme designed to help strengthen family ties and to help prisoners’ children play and bond with their parents. 

Drive to get children playing outdoors
30 July
The Telegraph highlights Playday 2007 research - reporting, 'Only one in five of today's children play outside in the street or local parks every day, according to new research.'

Radio Five Live
30 July
Radio Five Live's Colin Murray dedicated an hour of his show to the Our streets too! debate. Adrian Voce, director of Play England joined the discussion.

Newsround asks 'Do you play outside?
30 July
Newsround follows up Playday 2007 research - reporting, 'Hardly any of you are playing in parks and streets near your homes compared to when your parents were growing up, according to research.' Add to their comment board: 'Do you play outside?'

Drive to get children playing outdoors
30 July
The Telegraph highlights Playday 2007 research -reporting, 'Only one in five of today's children play outside in the street or local parks every day, according to new research.'

Reclaim streets call in Wales
30 July
The Western Mail reports, 'Residential streets need to be reclaimed from traffic to make them safe for children to play in, experts will argue this week amid fears of a “battery-reared” generation of unsociable and overweight youngsters.'

Campaign to reclaim streets
29 July
The Observer highlights Playday 2007: Our streets too!  - reporting, 'It's holiday time, but traffic and 'stranger danger' have driven children indoors.'

Cardiff Blues back Our streets too!
16 July
The Cardiff Blues rugby team is backing the Vale of Glamorgan Council's "Our Streets Too!" campaign.

Peter Wilby comments in the Guardian
1 July
In the Guardian, Wilby claims Britain has lost the art of socialising the young. The decline of the street as a place where children play goes hand in hand with the atomisation of our neigbourhoods.

 

To see how Playday has been reported on locally and regionally in previous years, visit the local and regional news archive