Active play and childrens health news
September 2009
Obese children show signs of heart disease
Researchers in Barcelona have found that obese children as young as 12 have highers cholesterol and blood pressure as well as more signs of pre-diabetes.
Scotsman (01/09/09) Obese children as young as 12 show signs of heart disease
August 2009
Half of children never play on the street
Research by Living Streets claims that almost half of five to 10 year olds never play outside their homes due to fear from traffic and strangers.
Daily Mail (12/08/09) Half of children never go out to play in the street
Children 'Go Play' in Scotland
£4 million of funding will be provided by the Scottish Government to improve play opportunities among five to 13 year olds in Scotland, as part of the two year 'Go Play' scheme.
The Scottish Government (11/08/09) Children 'Go Play'
National Playday
Playday is the annual celebration of children's right to play. On 5th August, over 800 events took place nationally, to demonstrate children's right to play and the time and space they need to do so.
www.playday.org.uk
Not enough time to play
Researchers in England have found that only around a quarter of parents have enough time to play with their children, with half blaming work for limiting their time.
Guardian (03/08/09) Not enough time to play, say parents
July 2009
Active five year olds healthier weight when older
Researchers in America have found that extra physical activity at age five can result in less body fat when aged eight and 11.
Telegraph (30/07/09) Active five-year-olds are thinner when they grow up
Active childrens games 'dying out'
A survey has shown that a lot less children are participating in traditional, active games such as skipping, conkers and climbing trees compared to their parents.
Telegraph (28/07/09) Traditional games such as conkers and hopscotch 'dying out', study claims
Physical activity means more sleep for children
Research has shown that children who are very physically active during the day take less time to fall asleep and sleep for longer, which promotes good health.
BBC (23/07/09) Study nails secret of child sleep
Children's version of Charter for Children's Play launched
Play England has launched a children's version of the Charter for Children's Play to give people working with children a tool to help with consultation on play services.
Play England - Charter for Children's Play
British children want more fun outdoors
A poll carried out by the National Trust has shown that 38% of children spend less than an hour a day being active outdoors, which can affect present and future health as well as the ability to cope with risks and challenges.
Guardian (12/07/09) British children want more fun outdoors, poll shows
1 in 6 children obese when they start school
Medical experts have warned that 1 in 6 children are clinically obese by the time they start primary school, due to a lack of physical activity and over-eating.
Daily Mail (06/07/09) One in six children clinically obese when they start primary school
May 2009
Outdoor Play Campaign Toolkit
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has produced a toolkit to help local authorities communicate the benefits of outdoor play to parents of children and young people.
www.dcsf.gov.uk/campaigns/outdoor_play
Play England resources
Play England has published briefings on developing adventure playgrounds, managing risk in play provision and offering play provision in early years.
www.playengland.org.uk/resources
French lessons tackling obesity in Scotland
Lessons from a French programme, including setting up walking clubs, which has cut childhood obesity by almost a quarter in participating towns are to be trialled in eight areas in Scotland.
The Scottish Government (28/05/09) French lessons tackling obesity
Councils pledge to put adventure back into playgrounds
Councils across England are building or refurbishing 3,500 playgrounds by 2011, including an increasing amount of adventure equipment.
Local Government Association (27/05/09) Cotton wool culture stifling the nation's children
April 2009
Britain's children not active enough before or after school
Daily Mail (24/04/09) Britain's kids are couch potatoes before they even get to school
Child wellbeing league table
Child Poverty Action Group (12/04/09) New Child Wellbeing league table
South Asian youths 'less active'
BBC (19/04/09) South Asian youths 'less active'
Not enough children have freedom to play outdoors
Natural England (02/04/09) Natural England to release one million children to the wild - Survey shows ‘outward bound' currently out of bounds
March 2009
500 new play areas open for Easter break
DCSF (30/03/09) 500 new play areas open in time for Easter break
A Children's Environment and Health Strategy for the United Kingdom
Health Protection Agency (24/03/09) A Children's Environment and Health Strategy for the United Kingdom
Play England to manage adventure playground programme
Play England (09/03/09) Play England to manage adventure playground programme
February 2009
Checking two year olds for obesity
Daily Mail (23/02/09) Children as young as two ‘must be tested for obesity'
Child health strategy
DH (12/02/09) Healthy lives, brighter futures – The strategy for children and young people's health
Customer Voice Research
DCSF (09/02/09) Customer Voice Research
Call for car-free housing estates
BBC (03/02/09) Car-free homes call to boost play
January 2009
Local Index of Child Well-being 2009
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/childwellbeing2009
Promoting physical activity for children and young people
NICE (28/01/09) Promoting physical activity for children and young people
National Child Measurement Programme
NHS Information Centre, National Child Measurment Programme: results from the school year 2007/2008
Play England conference
www.playengland.org.uk/southwest
BHF launches national children's workshops programme
British Heart Foundation (19/01/09) BHF launches national children's workshop programme for 2009
Toddlers as young as two are obese
Telegraph (16/01/09) Toddlers as young as two treated for obesity on NHS, says dietcian
December 2008
Almost £46 million for services for children, young people and families
DCSF (24/12/08) Almost £46 million for services for children, young people and families
National Play Strategy launched
DCSF (10/12/08) The Play Strategy
October 2008
CABE calls for end to ‘KFC' play spaces
CABE (27/10/08) CABE calls for end to ‘KFC' play spaces
September 2008
Generation of ‘play deprivation'
BBC (25/09/08) Generation of ‘play deprivation'