The Importance of Play and Parks

Today is National Play Day, which promotes the benefits of child's play, including improving mental and physical health, developing relationships and connecting with their community (1). But did you know play is also an important way for children to engage with nature? The 2019 Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) report found that playing was one of the top motivations for children to go outdoors and connect with nature (2).

Increased connectivity with nature is associated with myriad benefits, including health and well-being, but it is also vital to promoting respect for nature and pro-environmental behaviours (3). As David Attenborough put it:

"No one will protect what they don't care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced".

So, what's the problem? Well, the MENE also found a decline in children spending time outdoors (2). Potential causes may be reduced quality of local spaces (2) or parental fears around road safety and traffic (4). It may also be that children are spending their leisure time differently, preferring to spend it on their phones and laptops. In fact, Ofcom's Media Use and Attitudes Report 2022 found that 99% of children aged 0 to 17 went online, mainly to visit video-sharing platforms (5).?

What can we do about it? Several initiatives are already working to encourage play and reconnect both children and adults with nature. The University of Derby Nature Connectedness Research Group (3) is researching how to repair our relationships with nature through work, including the National Trust 's "50 Things To Do Before You're 11 3/4" and the The Wildlife Trusts "30 Days Wild".

At the recent #GameOnforNature conference, hosted by the Ecosystems Knowledge Network , we also saw how technology and gaming can be utilised to engage and inspire people to connect with nature. Of note concerning National Play Day is the work of Ruleo , a company founded by George Simons , which is working to create a mobile game which will connect children with nature through storytelling, augmented reality and nature hunts.

Finally, ensuring children also have a place to play is vital. Not all children will have access to a garden. Hence accessible, safe and high quality public parks and green spaces are a critical component; according to the MENE report, since playgrounds and playing fields are the most common places for children to experience and connect with nature (2). This is another reason our parks and green spaces are essential, and why CFP thinks they are worth protecting and investing in for future generations.

(1) Playday. (2022). Available: https://www.playday.org.uk/

(2) Natural England. (2019). Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment. Available: https://bit.ly/MENE2019

(3) University of Derby. (n.d.). Nature Connectedness Research Group. Available: https://bit.ly/udncrg

(4) Policy Studies Institute. (2015). Children’s Independent Mobility: an international comparison and recommendations for action. Available: https://bit.ly/ChildIndMob

(5) Ofcom. (2022). Children and parents: media use and attitudes report 2022. Available: https://bit.ly/ofcom2022