The survey, commissioned by Play England, Play Wales, Play Scotland and PlayBoard Northern Ireland for Playday today (7 August), found that more than 50 per cent of adults played out at least seven times a week when they were growing up, compared to less than a quarter of children today.
More than a quarter of parents said that they feared being judged by neighbours if they let their children play out unsupervised, and even more believed that if their children played ball games or made a noise outdoors it would cause problems with other residents.
A lack of dedicated community space was cited by many as limitiing opportunities for children to play outside.
However, nearly half of adults said that children playing out where they live improves community spirit and helps families get to know one another, and 60 per cent of parents said that they would feel confident to let their children play out if others were too.
Playday 2013's 'Playful places' campaign is calling on everyone to make sure that the places where children live are great places to play.
Cath Prisk, Director of Play England said, 'It’s up to all of us to turn around the creeping disappearance of children from our streets, parks and communities. We all have a role – as families, neighbours, and friends. We can all do something to say we love kids playing outdoors, that we want to live in communities that actively welcome kids playing out. There always was and always will be some people who want to squash kids' fun – but there are far more that really want kids back outside playing, not stuck indoors, especially over the summer holidays!
'If every councillor and MP committed to ensuring every child in their communities could play outside in their street, in playgrounds or local parks for at least an hour just five days a week, think of the difference that would make to every child’s health, to the number of friends they can make and most of all to the fun they can have!'
