LACK OF PLAY MAKES CREDIT CRUNCH KIDS UNHAPPY AND NAUGHTY

4 August 2009

Parents and children are facing school holiday woe this summer, as one in three say they can no longer afford to take their children out to play. Parents are concerned a lack of play makes children unhappy (86%) and naughty (72%).

 

An ICM survey, released this week by Play England for Playday 2009, questioned more than 1,000 adults and children and confirmed that children feel unhappy (52%), bored (77%) and miss their friends (68%) if they don’t have enough time to play. The report also found that children’s behaviour suffers through lack of play, with 72% of parents reporting that their children are naughty and become angry (62%) when they don’t get enough time to play.

Adrian Voce, Director of Play England, said:

‘Children, as well as their parents, are telling us that they are happiest and most cooperative when they get enough time to play.  And although they understand that this doesn’t have to mean costly trips or toys, the recession is definitely having an impact on their choices. This makes free local play areas more important than ever. That is why we are calling on all parties and local authorities to ensure the current investment and the other measures to create more child-friendly public space – is sustained. Everyone should support the government’s commitment to make this the best place in the world to grow up: starting with time and space to play for every child.’

Play England is inviting all parents and children to check out one of the 800 free events taking place across the country on Wednesday 5 August 2009 to celebrate this year’s Playday.

When asked what would help children to have more time to play, 73% of adults surveyed said they would like more places to play where children can go independently, and 61% would like flexible working arrangements for parents.

 

- ENDS-

 

Notes for editors:

1.      ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1037 adults aged 18 + by telephone between 24 – 25 June 2009. Interviews were conducted across the UK and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. They also interviewed a random sample of 1030 children and young people aged 7 – 14 across the UK by telephone between 19 June – 30 July 2009. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information at http://www.icmresearch.co.uk/.

2. Further research to support the Make time! campaign is published on the Playday website at http://www.playday.org.uk/:

  • ICM opinion poll summary
  • Review of published literature on children’s time to play
  • Qualitative research from focus groups with children and young people

3. To arrange an interview with a Playday expert, find information on local Playday events, or for quotes or interviews with children and parents from across the UK, call Clare Quarrell on 020 7843 6044/07721 097033 or email media@ncb.org.uk. 

4. Playday is the annual celebration of children’s right to play. The campaign is coordinated by Play England, based at NCB (www.ncb.org.uk), working in partnership with PlayBoard Northern Ireland, Play Scotland and Play Wales. For information on local Playday events visit the Playday website at http://www.playday.org.uk/

5. Play England promotes excellent free play opportunities for all children and young people. Play England provides advice and support to promote good practice, and works to ensure that the importance of play is recognised by policy makers, planners and the public. Play England is part of NCB and is funded by the Big Lottery Fund. For further information visit http://www.playengland.org.uk/

6. NCB’s mission is to advance the well-being of all children and young people across every aspect of their lives.  As a membership and infrastructure support agency for the children’s sector in England and Northern Ireland, NCB provides essential information on policy, research and best practice for our members and the members of our wide range of partnership bodies which operate under our charitable status and are based in our London headquarters. For further information visit www.ncb.org.uk

7. The Big Lottery Fund’s Children’s Play initiative is a £155 million programme. This includes a grant of £15 million to NCB to deliver the Play England project, to provide support and advice to local authorities and agencies to help them develop and deliver play strategies and access grants from BIG’s Children's Play programme. Full details of the Big Lottery Fund projects and grant awards are available on the website: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/

 

For further information on this release contact:

Clare Quarrell, Anna Tombs, Aoife Allen - NCB Media Office

Tel: 020 7843 6044/6045/6047/07721 097033

Email: media@ncb.org.uk