How lockdown has affected outdoor play for children
After coming back to our blog post pandemic, there is really only one place for Playsmart UK to start: the importance of play for children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. We also need to look into the impacts of lockdown on children.
Play for children is essential. Outdoor play encourages fresh air and a positive relationship with nature, whilst learning key skills and behaviours. From a socio-economic point of view, outdoor playgrounds are free and open to all. This means that children from all walks of life can meet and play in the same place. Issues of gender, race, and economic standings do not exist within the playground. Their sole purpose is for children’s socialisation.
Playgrounds can therefore be seen as essential. So what happened to playgrounds during the pandemic?
Impacts of Lockdown on Children
As the spread of COVID-19 is low risk for children under the age of twelve, and interaction outdoors minimising COVID transmission, social impacts may outweigh risks from playgrounds. The long-term effects of lacking social skills and health of children are greatest for children from disadvantaged ethnic groups, those who live in inner cities and low-income families.
Dr Tim Gill states, that the end result for many children during the pandemic was “boredom, isolation, inactivity, and poorer mental and physical health. The consequences for their development and well-being should not be underestimated.”
How Playgrounds Reopening Can Help
The government understands the integral role of playgrounds for children. Therefore, in Winter 2021, they allowed play spaces to remain open. Relaxing parents, thus removing anxiety and confusion over what and was not allowed. Child psychologists are hopeful that the reopening of playgrounds will help mitigate and reverse the physical, emotional, and educational damages from the first lockdown.
Playsmart, as an expert in playground safety flooring, is all too aware of the importance of play areas. Playsmart has a passion for giving children a space where they can explore, play, and learn lifelong skills. The coronavirus pandemic has been hard on everyone, but it’s our duty in society to protect the vulnerable. Making children’s play areas a safe space is first on our list, but helping to improve the lives of all children from all backgrounds is really special to be a part of.
References:
Frontiers – A Cross-Cultural Exploratory Study of Health Behaviors and Wellbeing During COVID-19
The Guardian – Call for more play time amid ‘schoolification’ of UK childhood
