Parents Perceptions of Play in School: Findings From the British Children's Play Survey

Abstract

Using data from the British Children's Play Survey, we aimed to characterise parents’ perception of play in school and to examine to what extent perceptions were accounted for by socio-demographic factors, geographic factors, and parents’ attitudes towards risk in play and protection from injury. Participants were 1919 parents (54% female) of children aged 5–11 years living in Britain. Overall, parents had positive perceptions about the need for outdoor play space in schools and viewed playtime as a vital part of the school day. There was more variability inparents’ responses to questions around the level of independence and risk that parents believed was appropriate in children's play. This variability was accounted for, in part, by socio-demographic factors and parents’ attitudes towards risk in play and protection from injury. We discuss findings in relation to policy around play in schools and public health messaging about the benefits of play for child development, specifically independent, risky play.