2008 research
A comprehensive body of research was
commissioned to support the Give us a go! campaign. The
research explores the benefits and challenges of enabling children
to manage their own risks whilst playing.
We have published in-depth research with children and young
people. For the first time, play providers were consulted. A
literature review collating published research relating to the
theme is also available, and national opinion polls of both
children and adults conducted by ICM.
The opinion poll findings show that children are facing serious
restrictions to their opportunities for adventurous play. Half of
children (51%) aged 7-12 years reported they are not allowed to
climb a tree without adult supervision and half (49%) also report
that they have been stopped from climbing trees because it was
considered to be too dangerous.
The research also finds a change in the places where children
and young people today experience adventurous and challenging play.
As children, 70% of adults enjoyed most of their adventures in
natural outdoor environments. This compares with only 29% of
children today as both the space and the freedom to roam has
dramatically declined in recent years. Today, children’s
experiences of adventure are confined to designated areas such as
playgrounds (56%), their homes (48%) or theme parks (44%).
Playday
2008 opinion poll summary [36KB]
Risk
and play: A literature
review [432KB]
Risk
and play: A literature review -
summary [20KB]
Give us a go!: Children and young
peoples views on play and risk
taking [465KB]
Risk and play: Play providers’
experience and views on adventurous
play [1.8MB]