Playing outside is becoming less common, especially in cities. Some experts, such as Tim Gill, outgoing director of the Children's Play Council, feel that play itself is increasingly under threat, especially the free-ranging play many adults remember from their own childhoods.
Long working hours for parents translate into childcare schemes, after-school clubs and other adult-led activities for children. And the erosion of small, local play facilities, coupled with busy roads and "stranger danger", mean children have fewer places to play in, while parents and carers can sometimes be fearful of letting them play outside at all.
Gathering the evidence
It's against this background that we've drawn up the Children Now play charter. Our first step was to gather evidence about children's play, looking at research and interviewing key players in the sector. We set out to identify the key elements that give play its unique value. The seven-point charter was drawn up following interviews with play workers, researchers, parents, teachers and children. The final content of the charter was agreed in close consultation with the London Play and the Children's Play Council, which has recently published its own manifesto for play.
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