Bounty

Parents want their children to be able to play for longer in school, more than the current 37 minutes average allocated to them during the school day, a survey has found.

The poll commissioned by the British Toy and Hobby Association and Play England discovered that new school regulations forbidding "rough and tumble" play in school are found restricting by most parents, with 33% stating that they wanted their children to have more playtime in school.

Out of the 2,000 parents surveyed all over the country, as many as 65% said they found school playtime too restrictive and said there was too much emphasis given to how and where children play. As many as 85% agreed that longer and better playtime would ensure that their children would learn more and improve their behaviour.

The poll also found that 74% of parents thought schools are too concerned about the health and safety of kids to allow them to play traditional games. Though schools were so concerned, 67% of parents admitted that they were not worried about their children getting hurt during play as it is something normal.

Amanda Gummer, a psychologist and play expert said: "It is concerning that such a large proportion of parents feel their child's school is restricting their play, and rough and tumble play in particular.

"While schools need to prioritise safety, play is key to developing social skills including teamwork, communication and negotiation. The playground is the perfect place to learn these skills."

Copyright Press Association 2010