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MPs call for return to outdoor play in England as experts warn childhood is 'shrinking'

MPs call for return to outdoor play in England as experts warn childhood is 'shrinking'

Experts say falling playtime is harming children’s development — and want England to follow Wales and Scotland’s lead.

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Ruairidh Pritchard

Published: April 17, 2025 at 3:13 PM

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It’s time to reclaim childhood, say campaigners — and that starts with getting kids playing outside again

Experts and MPs are now making a formal plea to the UK government: bring back a national play strategy and stop the slow erosion of children’s right to play.

Once a staple of childhood, outdoor playtime has been steadily vanishing from children’s lives in England — and with it, vital developmental benefits.

Children’s worlds have shrunk enormously over the last 50 years, we need to reclaim childhood.

Baroness Anne Longfield, former children’s commissioner

England falling behind on the right to play

Unlike Scotland and Wales, where the right to play is embedded in law, England currently has no national requirement for outdoor play provision.

The last dedicated play strategy, introduced in 2008, was scrapped just two years later. Since then, say campaigners, the picture has worsened.

Tom Hayes, Labour MP for Bournemouth East, is spearheading a new cross-party group for play, launching in the Commons this May.

“A national play strategy is an investment in the very goals of the government,” he said. “Ensuring that children are seen, heard and supported.”

The strategy being proposed isn’t just about building a few more slides. It’s a broad plan calling for more funding, proper outdoor facilities, and even a rethink of school schedules to prioritise time for unstructured play.

Why play really matters — especially now

Parents know how tricky it is to get young children away from screens — but the problem is deeper than tech habits alone.

Longfield, now executive chair of the Centre for Young Lives, warned that today’s kids lack the same freedoms their parents and grandparents had.

A 2022 survey found that over 80% of people aged 55 to 64 recalled playing out freely in the streets as children. That’s compared with just 25% of today’s children.

Girls and children from ethnic minority backgrounds are even less likely to play outdoors, reflecting broader inequalities in access.

Meanwhile, the average school break time has shrunk by almost a quarter since 1995 for five- to seven-year-olds. That means kids are losing out on crucial chances to move, socialise and develop confidence.

We’re now seeing the consequences — rising anxiety, falling wellbeing, and fragmented communities.

Eugene Minogue, executive director of Play England

How far are we from the nearest playground? Too far, say experts

According to the latest Green Space Index, nearly one in three children under nine live more than a 10-minute walk from a playground.

Add in parental concerns over safety and a national culture that has become increasingly risk-averse, and it’s easy to see why many children spend their playtime indoors.

But research shows that the best, most adventurous play happens in parks and green spaces. That’s why campaigners want to see proper investment in community playgrounds, particularly in areas of deprivation.

What is being done now

The Raising the Nation Play Commission, led by Longfield and children’s campaigner Paul Lindley, has already issued interim recommendations. Top of the list: restore a national play strategy, embed playtime into the school day, and ensure Ofsted includes it in its inspections.

The Department for Education has responded by pointing to its £15 million Nature Park scheme, which supports greener school grounds. But many say that’s not enough.

With cross-party support growing, and the wellbeing of a generation on the line, mums across the UK may be asking the same question: is it time we put play back at the heart of childhood?

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Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.