New Survey from IPEMA and the Voice of Play Finds Outdoor Play Helpful for Children Coping with Mental Impacts of Social Injustice
Research also explores how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the state of children’s play and family togetherness
September, 2020 – Research shows that outdoor free play gives kids many valuable benefits, including the development of physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills. As 2020 has proven to be a difficult year, parents agree. According to the third annual Voice of Play Survey, the majority (87%) of parents say right now, play is more important than ever for children, and 88% agree outdoor play helps children cope with the mental impacts of social injustice in the U.S.
One thousand parents across the U.S. were surveyed online, conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA), the playground industry’s leading playground safety certification organization, and its Voice of Play initiative.
Public Playgrounds Have an Important Role in Fostering Inclusiveness and Play Equity
In addition to outdoor play helping children cope with the mental impacts of social injustice, 9 in 10 parents also say that spontaneous play with other kids on the playground shape their child’s view of equality for all, regardless of race and ability levels. 92% also agree playing on the playground helps children to be inclusive of others who may have different abilities and backgrounds than their own.
“Play is the great equalizer and allows children to develop empathy,” said Tom Norquist, IPEMA immediate past president. “Play allows children to readily accept differences, genuinely feel harmonious and learn that others may have different feelings and perspectives. It’s great to confirm from our survey research that parents observe this across the country.”
When asked what positive impacts they see from their children playing with other children on public playgrounds, 42% of parents say playing with children of all abilities and a third of parents say confidence boosting. And when asked what steps within their own community they think would have the greatest impact on increasing opportunities for play for all children, 26% of parents agree increased government funding for constructing inclusive playground equipment and 25% say policy changes to keep recess and physical education programs in schools.
The Importance of Play in a Pandemic
While most parents say right now, play is more important than ever for children, only 2 in 5 report their children are playing more today compared to before the pandemic. Over half of parents also value public playground environments more today than before the pandemic, yet under half are currently allowing their children to play on them. As our nation continues to be in a state of uncertainty, studies show that when playing, children can release emotions and “play out” their traumas so they can share feelings freely. IPEMA’s Voice of Play initiative promotes growth in the quality and quantity of children’s free play and the use of playgrounds, and it hopes this data will shed light on the importance of play.
The Pandemic Has Brought More Family Togetherness
More than half of the parents surveyed say they are playing together with their family now more than before the pandemic. And nearly all (94%) parents are engaging with their children in outdoor play. When asked what the benefits of playing together as a family are, 67% of parents say improves connection, 65% reduces stress and 51% agree that it teaches cooperation. Nearly half (48%) also agree that playing together deepens a sense of belonging. Research shows that group play helps children prepare for a lifetime of interacting with others.
To learn more about this survey and the benefits of play, visit VoiceofPlay.org.
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About IPEMA
The International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association is a non-profit, membership, trade association that represents and promotes an open market for manufacturers of playground equipment and surfacing. IPEMA represents and serves its members by providing information on key economic and governmental issues affecting the play equipment industry and promotes relationships among related organizations. IPEMA provides third-party product certification services for public play equipment and surfacing in the United States and Canada, ensuring compliance with ASTM and CSA trade standards.
About Voice of Play
IPEMA’s Voice of Play initiative promotes the benefits of children’s play and playgrounds by providing information and resources to encourage the quality and quantity of children’s play and the use of playgrounds. Through resources on the Voice of Play website – www.voiceofplay.org – and a social media outreach effort, the initiative heightens public awareness among key professional and consumer groups, including, parents, children, community groups, school administrators, parks and recreation professionals, playground designers and equipment manufacturers. Like Voice of Play on Facebook at www.facebook.com/voiceofplay and follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/voice_of_play.