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2025 has been a momentous year for the play industry and now, more than ever, it is at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
There has recently been a tremendous spotlight on the field as a whole, and it is no wonder with the traction of national approach to government. Movements such as those led by the National Play Strategy have left a significant impact, with collective research and insight, they have released after a yearlong inquiry with a final report of ‘Everything to Play For – Raising the Nation Play Commission’ which looks into the importance of play and the provision of play spaces.
This year for Playday 2025, idverde Creating Play are inspired by the rise in awareness for the industry as a whole, and most importantly some of the results from the play commission, where the value in provision of play and green spaces is really hitting new heights.
Playday is a national day held on the first Wednesday of every August. Organised by a collection of charitable bodies, and celebrated by those within the sector, to raise awareness for children’s right to play across the entirety of Britain – and this year’s theme is ‘Spaces for Play’.
Did you know that there are over 14,400,000 children within the UK right now, under the age of 18? (1)
With a large increase in the population of youth, alongside the inevitable ever-evolving digital industry, it is no surprise that we are now seeing less children having access and embracing outdoor play than ever before. Children’s screentime surged by 52% during the pandemic, with 12-15 years olds now spending on average 35 hours a week on their smartphones – almost as much as a full-time job. (109, 2) So what are some of the barriers our future generations are facing, when it comes to encouraging access to outdoor play spaces?
Creating Play have decided to summarise four of the key reasons, we feel are main barriers to access play, not limited to; General Perceptions of Play and Playing Outside, Spaces Not Safe for Children, Inequality in Outdoor Play and Declination of Play Areas.
Even with surmountable evidence on the benefits of play, it still comes as no surprise when the provisions of play are amongst the first to take a cut when it comes to the design of new urban and outdoor spaces. Between the time frames of 2017/18 to 2020/21, spending on play facilities fell by a drastic 44%, with some areas even receiving cuts across the nation, with up to values of 88% (69,2), and annual park budget fell by more than £350 million between 2011 and 2023. (10,2)
Despite being one of the most valued components that parents look for, when seeking a playful neighbourhood, alongside revealing within a poll it is the factor they favour the most for Government investments (44% want more within outdoor parks and 28% for playgrounds) (63,2). A shocking 76% of parents/carers still agree that people generally are less accepting of children playing outside, with a further 55% (and values increasing with parental age), saying their child plays outside far less than when compared to when they were a child. (9,2)
Play unfortunately results in often not being seen as a priority, and at worst in some cases, even be seen as a nuisance to some spaces. With an increase of prohibitions such as ‘No Ball Games’ signs and similar restrictions seen throughout the nation, children do not feel welcome to play in most spaces. With as many as 7,000 signs prohibiting play in London alone (11,2). Where children used to see little division between what is defined as a ‘play area’ and ‘non-play area’, there has become a clear indicator that children are not welcomed in certain locations, and as a result, they are pushed into limited spaces to search for their own freedom and ownership. However, with the continuous reduction of green and play spaces, these access points are becoming further and fewer between.
Safety is unsurprisingly ranked as the second biggest barrier to playing outdoors by young children, with it ranking the highest concern among children aged 8-13 years of age. (25,2) and with over half the population at 56%, noting that their quality of local park or play area has declined (68,2), it is no wonder why.
In a societal period where we are in tune with the risks of our surrounding environments more than ever, it’s no surprise that through a combination of parents being concerned about the well-being of their children when out shared spaces, alongside the play spaces themselves not being fit for purpose, well maintained or welcoming environments; children do not feel safe either.
As a result, children are limited in the spaces they have to share with friends and experience play, and are more likely driven inside to seek social experiences through other means, such as online gaming or social media platforms. Alternatively, the only other option children have is to become dependent on parents/carers to take them to spaces they can play freely and safely, but with this being a luxury in itself, not all parents/carers are able to fulfil these constraints. Further, highlighting the significant need for more safe and free-to play spaces which children can access at their own local level. (67,2)
While there has been significant improvement in the provision of play spaces meeting inclusive requirements and needs, it is still a curve that is on the rise, within its early stages and many play spaces are just simply not accessible to all children. (57,2)
There is still a desperate need for play spaces that meet the provisions of all users, before allowing access to play, not limited to; holistic neurodivergent inclusive play, disability access, ‘risky’ play alongside challenging equipment, diverse environments beyond football pitches, spaces girls can enjoy and accessibility/provisions for parents/carers. (25,57,2) When these core issues are addressed, play should become far more accessible to all and facilitate the needs of everyone who requires them.
With the increase of awareness of play, how come we are seeing far more children driven inside and no longer seeking opportunities outside for play? The commonly consumed answer is the rise of the digital age, but that does not paint the entire picture. There is a reduction in play provision and spaces, which is also vastly contributary to the limitation in accessing play to begin with.
Outdoor play has been estimated to decline by a shocking 50% in a single generation (10,58,2), and today when children travel shorter and shorter distances independently, the points of play are simply becoming significantly reduced over time. Across a decade, up to 2022, over 420+ playgrounds across England closed, with the actual number being much likely higher (68,2) and over 2 million children in England (32%) who are aged up to 9, do not even have a playground within a 10-minute walk of their own home. (68,2) – children simply do not have anywhere they can go to play.
With an ever-growing population of children and youth under the age of 18. The consequences of not prioritising play will become more evident over time. That’s why, this Playday 2025 ‘Spaces for Play’ Creating Play would like to raise awareness, not just for more spaces to play but also the significance on social, physical, developmental impacts and happiness it will have on all our future generations in providing them.
By Abbie Griffith-Dickson (Creative Design & Technical Lead)
References:
(1 – data.unicef.org: Population of the UK under aged 18, circa 2023)
(2 – playengland.org.uk: ‘Everything to Play For – Raising the Nation Play Commission’, pages as referenced)
