As reported by Government Business, The Association of Play Industries calls for increased funding for public playgrounds to combat childhood obesity and mental health issues
The association and founders of the Pathway To Play campaign have issued an open letter to the next UK Government, highlighting the critical role of outdoor play in combating childhood obesity, poor mental health and sleep problems.
In the report, the API said that childhood obesity levels and mental health issues are at “record levels,” suggesting this is linked to a significant decrease in children’s times spent outdoors.
They added: “Public playgrounds are an essential community resource, and despite the public’s renewed appreciation for them during and after the pandemic, their role in promoting children’s health has been undervalued and overlooked by policymakers.
“It’s time to level up the life chances of all UK children by ensuring access to free, local and high-quality playgrounds for all.”
Their manifesto emphasises the importance of public outdoor play spaces and outlines three key commitments for the government.
The first is that the government must conduct a national audit of public playgrounds to assess their quantity, quality, and accessibility.
Also, the API also called for the government to allocate dedicated funding for the installation and maintenance of free-to-use community play spaces.
Finally, they urged that there should be an increase in physical activity levels at school to boost children’s physical activity levels.
They said: “The inactivity epidemic among children demands immediate action. Investment in high-quality, free and local playground provision is essential to encourage outdoor play and combat the adverse effects of excessive screen time.”
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