Published On: 18 October 2022793 words4 min read

The British Children’s Play Survey, 2020, found that children aged 5 to 11 across the UK had limited opportunity to play outdoors and that the average age at which they were allowed to do so independently, without parents, was 10.74 years. The survey’s authors also noted that while all kinds of play are beneficial for children’s mental health, outdoor play, especially adventurous play in natural surroundings, provides opportunities to explore age-appropriate risks that help prevent fear and anxiety in children.

This comes at a time when the NHS reported that the percentage of primary school children with a probable mental disorder had risen from 9.4% in 2017 to 14.4% in 2020, and a national survey of primary school parents and teachers also showed that as many as 66% of parents claim their child regularly feels anxious about lessons and homework and that 63% of those parents said that managing their children’s anxiety is just as important to them as their academic success.

Despite outdoor play being so important for preventing and helping with anxiety, the British Children’s Play Survey indicated that compared to their parents, children get far fewer opportunities. UK data shows that while parents spent 40% of their play in natural spaces when they were young, for children today, that figure is just 10%. A key reason for this is that parents are not letting their children play out unsupervised in their neighbourhoods, and so they get little chance to do adventurous things, like climb trees, roll down hills or swing on ropes.

More adventure required

Adventurous play, where children can experience thrill, excitement and fear, is considered one of the most beneficial for helping with fear and anxiety. And while the research showed that all outdoor locations offered children some potential for adventure, opportunities were greatest in green and grassy spaces and in playgrounds where they could climb, run, jump and hide. However, with regards to playgrounds, it was noted that there was evidence that not all of them offer children an appropriate level of challenge for their age and that, “It is, therefore, vital that children’s play spaces are evaluated for the play opportunities that they offer, and not simply on the basis of maximising safety.”

The implication for schools

When the findings of the British Children’s Play Survey, the NHS and the national survey of parents and teachers are combined, there are clear implications for schools. The number of primary-aged pupils with anxiety is increasing and the opportunities for adventurous outdoor play that is so important for combatting anxiety are limited.

What schools can do, therefore, is to evaluate the play opportunities that their own playgrounds provide and seek to address any shortcomings when it comes to upgrading their outdoor space. In particular, it would involve making the space greener and adding age-appropriate outdoor play equipment that provides thrills, excitement and some element of fear.

Bringing nature and adventure to the playground

While some schools have the luxury of green, leafy areas for children to play in, many more do not. Indeed, it can be difficult even to imagine how to turn a typically tarmacked space into something that looks natural. However, there are plenty of ways to do this. It is possible to replace some of the hard surfacing with grass or artificial grass, and this can be contoured to create a more natural landscape. With small hills and inclines, children also have more opportunities for climbing up, rolling down and crawling through the tunnels underneath them.

At the same time, the introduction of trellises and planters can be used to grow plants, shrubs, small trees and climbers, all giving the space a more natural feel. Trellises can be particularly useful as their green walls can obscure the more urban views, helping to give the impression that the playground is not in a built-up area.

To continue this natural theme, make sure that any adventurous equipment that’s installed is made from wood, rather than metal or plastic. And when it comes to choosing wood-constructed equipment that offers thrills, excitement and a touch of fear, without compromising on safety, there is an awful lot to choose from. Depending on age, this can include play towers, climbing frames, trim trails obstacle courses, traversing walls, block sets, climbing cubes and rope challenges – indeed, some equipment includes a mix of these elements.

Conclusion

Research has shown that adventurous play in natural spaces can prevent and help with anxiety. With children having little opportunity for this kind of play at home and with anxiety on the rise, schools have the potential to make a difference by making their playgrounds greener and introducing play equipment that offers thrills, excitement and an element of fear.

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