Play Day fun (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Play Day fun

7:47am Thursday 7th August 2008

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Up to 1,500 children celebrated National Play Day yesterday at probably the biggest play event to be held in Bradford district. Education Reporter DAN WEBBER went along.

It is a scene which epitomises childhood: children race away from each other to take up hiding places in nearby fields, trees and wasteland as a game of hide-and-seek begins.

Yet millions of youngsters are missing out on such simple past-times because over-cautious parents are nervous about exposing them to risks, a study for the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has revealed.

However, all is not lost. Playday, hosted by the NCB, is an annual celebration of children’s right to play and enjoy a childhood closer to the type older generations will remember.

This year’s theme – Give Us a Go! – called for a reverse in the decline of adventurous play opportunities and highlights the important need for children to experience challenging play to ensure they are better equipped to manage risk in their daily lives.

Yesterday, as part of the nationwide day of fun, Bradford youngsters were given a chance to enjoy an impressive range of outdoor fun at Baildon Recreation Ground. A 30ft climbing wall, water slide, mini commando course, skate park, messy play area and reptile tent were just some of the activities on offer for about 1,500 children.

Organiser Janet Jewitt, a play co-ordinator with the Bradford Play Network, said: “We have had several events across Bradford this week but this is the best because it celebrates National Play Day.

“It’s all about getting children to play outside and take part in activities which are creative, stimulating and in which they will interact.”

Mrs Jewitt said outdoor play added a huge amount to children’s lives and, importantly, remained free. She added she believed the risks to today’s children were no different to those of generations before, but were given much greater scrutiny by the media.

Bradford Council’s play champion Ian Shackleton, a parish councillor for Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury, said: “When I was a lad you could go outside at breakfast time and not turn up again until tea time. This sort of an event is a huge bonus.”

Owen James, 11, of Buttershaw, Bradford, who will join Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College in September, said he far preferred playing outdoors to stopping inside. He said: “In outdoor play I get to ride on my bike, play hide-and-seek and I sometimes make dens a little bit too. I still like computer games but I prefer to play outside.”

Georgina Diakiw, also 11, of Wibsey, a pupil at St Joseph’s Catholic College, said she also favoured outdoor play. “It’s much more fun – I play around my estate.”

Allerton Children’s Centre will host a further play session in Ladyhill Park, Chapel Lane, Allerton, Bradford, tomorrow from 1pm to 4pm.

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