Article published on 24 July 2017
‘Three-quarters of UK children spend less time outdoors than prison inmates. This statement came out of a recent survey published (commissioned by the brand Persil as a part of its “Dirt is Good” campaign). It is a pretty damning indictment for today’s children.
Paradoxically, within the same survey 98% of parents polled agreed that play enables children to become well-rounded adults yet went on to say that their children have fewer opportunities to play outside in community spaces compared to when they were young.
So why do parents feel this? We know children do not have the same freedom to play away from home they once had. The reasons for this are complex, revolving around the perception of children’s safety in today’s world.
If children are not afforded the freedom to go out and play away from home, then we must address the quality of the environments we provide for them in our current housing estates and in new housing developments. We must work to the premise that if our children’s world has shrunk then we must create spaces for them to play near to their homes that provide a beacon for play along with the benefits play brings to their health and well-being.
The Design Council published the Decent Homes needs Decent Spaces in 2010. This outlined a 10-point action plan to enhance community spaces within our homes. Research showed that investing in high-quality spaces is effective for keeping people safe. It also evidenced that green spaces closest to where people live bring the most health benefits.
We must therefore never compromise when designing spaces close to homes to ensure we provide environments where children and families can engage with nature and where children can play freely.
Recent
Promoting Health Lifestyles through Outdoor Play for Children
Article published on 29 May 2024
The Importance of Outdoor Play for Children: Proludic’s Mission In an era where digital screens are drawing children indoors and physical inactivity is becoming a public health crisis, Proludic is taking a stand to reaffirm the importance of outdoor play and sports areas. The recent ‘Pathway to Play’ report and ensuing campaign (#PATHWAYTOPLAY) by the...
Join Proludic’s Expertise Webinar Series: Your Gateway to Knowledge & Inclusive Play Design
Article published on 16 April 2024
Proludic’s expertise webinar series exemplifies our steadfast dedication to quality. These webinars are aimed to provide practical advice and valuable insights on: With over 35 years of experience, Proludic has remained committed to creating community-based play and sports areas that offer more than just amusement for children, providing deeper benefits aligned with our ethos. Introducing Proludic’s Brand New...
