February 2016 - Parks & Recreation - 22

By the Numbers

Free Play Across the Globe

Evidence continues to emerge about the benefits of active, experiential playtime - exploring nature, on the playground, sports,
etc. - for those children allowed to engage frequently in such activities. When children are able to spend time at play, their cognitive abilities improve, they learn valuable social skills and their physical health is less likely to deteriorate. But, what can the
free-play habits and choices of children all over the world tell us about this most instinctual activity? Yale University researchers
Dorothy G. Singer, Jerome L. Singer, Heidi D'Agostino and Raeka DeLong sought to answer that question in their 2009 study,
Children's Pastimes and Play in Sixteen Nations - Is Free-Play Declining? Below, we highlight some of the more interesting findings
of the report, which culled data from children and mothers in Argentina, Brazil, China, France, India, Indonesia, Ireland,
Morocco, Pakistan, Portugal, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.

2,400: Number of children whose play habits

were studied for the report.

1-12: Age range of children who participated in

the study.

72:

33: Percentage of children surveyed in the United

States who say they " often " spend time exploring nature.

5:

Percentage of children surveyed in Vietnam who say
they " often " spend time exploring nature.

54:

Percentage of surveyed mothers who say their
children regularly spend their free time watching television
- this was the most common leisure activity among boys
and girls equally and across all 16 countries surveyed.

Percentage of children surveyed who report being
happiest while playing outside at a playground or park.

58: Percentage of surveyed mothers who say their

happiest while playing an electronic game.

children regularly spend their free time playing outside.

60 versus 63: Percentage of free time

19: Percentage of children surveyed who report being
72:

Percentage of mothers of surveyed children who
agreed with the idea that children today are growing up
too quickly.

spent watching television and playing outside, respectively,
as reported by children living in developed countries.

78 versus 49: Percentage of free time

spent watching television and playing outside, respectively,
as reported by children living in developing countries.

20	 Parks & Recreation

| F E B R UA R Y 2 0 1 6 | W W W. N R PA . O R G

Source: Children's Pastimes and Play in Sixteen Nations -
Is Free-Play Declining? (www.journalofplay.org/sites/www.
journalofplay.org/files/pdf-articles/1-3-article-childrens-pastimesplay-in-sixteen-nations.pdf)



February 2016 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2016 - Parks & Recreation

February 2016 - Parks & Recreation - 1
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