Sandra Dick: Play your part in getting children out and about

Encouragement and trust is required to get youngsters away from the TV screen, as Sandra Dick finds

Remember those long summer days spent running from friends' houses to playing fields, kicking balls and climbing trees, out on bikes and scooters? Days when the sun always seemed to shine, when sitting plonked in front of the television didn't happen because the only thing that was on was the test card.

No-one wanted to be cooped up inside - after all, that's where the boring grown-ups were . . .

Give it a couple more decades and getting kids to put one foot in front of the other and step outside will require the negotiating skills of a UN diplomat combined with the conflict management prowess of a boxing referee.

Removing junior backsides from the comfort of the chair in front of the television has become a parental pastime, assuming mum and dad haven't already thrown in the towel and bought a Wii to get their children moving.

These days the great outdoors - nature's playground - seems a significantly quieter place. Playparks can be deserted - even at the height of the school holidays - while living rooms are under occupation from Halo: Reach addicts and iCarly fans.

To prove the point, we've just marked National Playday, an event aimed at encouraging the UK's children to do what children are supposed to do naturally and without having to be told: play.

Its research confirmed children are increasingly inside, with 60 per cent of parents admitting they would like to see their children outdoors more than they are and statistics suggesting one in five children has never played in a field. For one in six, woods and forests are uncharted territory.

All of which suggests a nation of sad children confined to barracks by parents either too scared to cut them loose, or too busy to make the effort to encourage them outdoors.

Yet the surveys also revealed that many of these children don't actually want to be at home. Most yearn to feel the sun on their faces, if not the rain seeping through their anoraks. Playing at the beach, the park, riding a bike and playing with a ball all rated higher in their list of favoured things to do than playing computer games.

So what has caused this childhood confinement? Is this the fault of computers, lazy children and the demise of playing fields, or should we adults shoulder some blame?

Jill Cook, helpline manager for ParentLine Scotland, which is run by Children 1st, agrees that play is a major area of concern among parents.

"These days many households have multiple televisions and games consoles. As a result, children are spending more and more time in their rooms by themselves," she says.

"Technology is not solely to blame, however. Parents are a lot more cautious when it comes to allowing their children to play outside and they are reluctant to let them out of their sight.

"Children and young people would be a lot more willing to leave their computers and televisions if they were able to enjoy freedom to play outside.

"Risk to children can never be eliminated entirely. What is important is that we take sensible steps that respect our children, protect them where possible, and allow them the freedom to take appropriate risks so that they can have a happy childhood and grow into well-rounded adults."

The issues at stake are more than simply child's play. Anne Houston, chief executive of Children 1st, says: "Play brings benefits physically, socially and emotionally and is a vital part of childhood. Parents should encourage play from an early age by playing with their own children, which also helps to strengthen the bond between parent and child, and by encouraging them to play with others."

Margaret Westwood, senior play development officer at Edinburgh City Council, agrees. "Parents often don't realise the difference it makes to a child's development," she says. "Being outside means they are in a more stimulating environment than if they were simply playing in their room."

Parents may think they are protecting young children by keeping them inside, but outdoor play can actually help them develop vital street sense for when they are older.

Ms Westwood adds: "When they get to secondary school, they have to cope outside without the parent's help and that is when accidents can happen."

Concerns over traffic and stranger danger aside, there could be another issue behind our reluctance to get our children moving: our own flaccid lifestyles. Research from Savlon earlier this year showed one in seven parents simply did not feel fit enough to play outside with their children, while other evidence points to grown-ups' own addiction to TV and computers.

Yet, adds Children 1st's Jill Cook, it's never too late to change.

"Parents should talk to their children about where they are going, who they are with and when they will return home," she says.

"They should ensure that their children know simple measures they need to take to protect themselves, such as not talking to people they don't know and always staying with their friends.

"Having these conversations not only helps parents to establish boundaries but also promotes a relationship of trust between parent and child."

• Contact ParentLine Scotland on 0800 028 2233 or [email protected]

Making a move

THE summer holidays are disappearing fast, but there's still time to get the kids out and about. Here's our pick of the best outdoor, child-friendly locations.

1 Portobello Beach. Pack buckets and spades, nets, frisbees and a picnic.

2 Beecraigs Country Park, near Linlithgow. Masses of woodland to run around in, a well-equipped playpark and a deer park.

3 Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Acres of space to run around in and the tropical glasshouses attack the senses with unusual smells and weird plants.

4 Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge. More than 100 hectares, a giant chair and a super-size bike waiting to be clamoured over. Plenty of space for ball games and bike rides.

5 East Meadows Playpark. Climbing challenges and monkey bars for older children, sandpit and water fun for younger children.

6 Union Canal. Paths provide an easy cycle route. Stop off at Harrison Park at Polwarth for swings and play equipment to burn off more energy.

7 Cramond Shore. When they are tired of exploring the rock pools, send them off to climb the trees.

8 Water of Leith. Be jungle explorers and hunt for otters, kingfishers and assorted wildlife or just play pooh sticks. There's also an indoor interactive visitor centre.

9 Finally, there's always the back garden. Pitch a tent, dig out the water pistols or, for real mess, fill balloons with shaving foam and play balloon squash: split into teams, pile balloons at the end of the garden and see who can burst the most by sitting on them.