Playday has commissioned a comprehensive body of research into attitudes towards children playing out and key factors that impact on their opportunity to do so.

Research includes opinion polls of children, parents and play providers as well as literature reviews which collate previously published research.

The aim of this research is to help support the case for why children and young people should have the opportunity to play out. We’ve listed it all here so that you can use it to promote your own Playday events.

2013 Play places research consisted of a UK-wide opinion poll which found that children want to play out more but key barriers prevent this.

Playday 2010 Our place research revealed that the loss of community spirit in Britain was leading to children not being allowed to play outside where they live.

The Playday 2009 Make time! ICM poll found that nearly three-quarters of parents (72%) wanted more time to play with their children or to take them places to play.

The 2008 Give us a go! campaign research explored the benefits and challenges of enabling children to manage their own risks whilst playing.

Playday’s 2007 Our streets too research explored attitudes towards street play as well as barriers to and beneficial effects of playing in a street environment.

In 2006, Play England published Play, Naturally: A review of children’s natural play by Stuart Lester and Martin Maudsley of Playwork Partnerships. The report looked at the benefits of play on children’s health and well-being, and outlined what we should be doing to compensate for the loss of natural play space in recent years.
Download the report here.