CHILDREN GET JUST

ONE HOUR OF PLAY A DAY

New research reveals kids have less time to play then their parents’ generation

New research today reveals that parents feel their children are not having enough playtime with the average child playing for just over one hour (70 minutes) each day. Parents would like to see this at least time double. 

The British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA) and Play England who commissioned the survey found that one in four parents feel they had a lot more time to play when they were a child compared to their own children growing up today.

Over half of parents feel that their children are under more pressure today than ever before and that school, homework and extracurricular lessons are preventing them from having the time to play. One in ten said they feel their children have increasingly structured days and one in five don’t think their children have enough free time to just be children. 

Almost a third of parents (27 per cent) feel like time playing with their children is becoming limited due to work pressures such as overtime in a bid to impress employers and over a third (39 per cent) would like to have flexible working time so they can spend more time encouraging their kids to play.

The research found that a quarter of parents find it difficult to think up different and creative ways to support their children’s play and a third (32 per cent )would like a resource to be available that gives them ideas to encourage more play.

The BTHA has therefore partnered with Play England to ask parents to ‘Make A Pledge’ to allocate more of their children’s time each day to spend playing.  Parents can make their pledge via Facebook at www.facebook.com/maketimetoplay and will be able to receive help and ideas of what to do with the time they pledge.

The aim is to get the UK to collectively pledge 2 million extra minutes to play over the next three months. Parents can pledge anything from just 5 minutes a day to 3 hours and can also keep adding time if they are easily hitting their own target.

“Play helps a child to develop a whole range of skills from learning how to take turns and share to increasing fitness, creativity and even self-esteem.  Through fun and play a child learns about the world around them”, said Dr Amanda Gummer, a psychologist who advises the BTHA. “This research shows that children today are not getting enough time to play and their parents want to change this”.

Adrian Voce, Director of Play England, said “Play England are pleased to partner with the British Toy and Hobby Association to encourage more play for all children. Both organisations believe in the power of play and the benefits it has for the development of all children, such as health, learning and enjoyment.  An easy way for families to pledge towards the 2million extra minutes is to attend a one of a thousand events taking place across the UK on 4 August to celebrate Playday. Through the ‘Make Time to Play’ campaign we hope that steps will be made to give our nation’s children the playtime they need and deserve”. 

Parents are also invited to share their favourite games and tips to inspire children to play through the Facebook page and can get lots of ideas of how to fill their pledged time at www.maketime2play.co.uk. The site details the benefits of play and gives parents ideas of what to do to keep children entertained over the coming months including Playday – the annual celebration of children’s right to play on Wednesday 4th August.

The poll of 2,000 parents with children aged under 13 was carried out online by www.OnePoll.com. The research took place between the 4th and 8th June 2010.

BTHA; Dr Amanda Gummer, Psychologist (FUNdamentals)
Play England : Adrian Voce, Director

BTHA: Natasha Crookes, Communications Director

Founded in 1944, the British Toy & Hobby Association is the official organisation representing Britain’s £2.7 billion toy market.  The Association promotes the highest standards of safety, quality and responsible behaviour in the manufacture and marketing of toys, games and playthings as well as actively promoting the value that play has in people’s lives. These high standards are denoted by the Lion Mark – the Association’s badge of membership. For more information on the BTHA visit www.btha.co.uk.

Play England is a charity that 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 supported by the Big Lottery Fund. For further information call 020 7843 6300 or visit www.playengland.org.uk.

Playday is coordinated by Play England, part of NCB, working in partnership with PlayBoard Northern Ireland, Play Scotland and Play Wales. The national campaign involves thousands of children and young people getting out to play at locally organised events. Playday events range from small-scale neighbourhood get-togethers to large-scale public events organised by local authorities and national organisations.

NCB’s mission is to advance the well-being of all children and young people across every aspect of their lives. As the leading support and development charity for the whole of 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 networks and partnership bodies, operating under our charitable status and based in our London headquarters. For further information visit www.ncb.org.uk