Playday 2007

Safety First for fun of Playday

by BEN BARNETT

T&A Reporter

A sunny day of old-fashioned outdoor fun kept child safety fears at bay

Hundreds of youngsters descended upon the recreation fields in Green Lane, Baildon, to celebrate their right to play on National Playday.

While only a fifth of today's children play outside in the street or areas close to their homes every day, 71 per cent of adults said they had played outside when they were children.

Almost one in four children and 35 per cent of adults, listed traffic as one of their top three barriers to street play

Of those asked, 29 per cent of under-18s and 39 per cent of adults said extra play spaces would make children play on the streets and areas near their homes more often.The theme for this year's

The theme for this year's

Playday was Our Streets Too, to highlight that children have a

development unit organised the event in Baildon. Children had a go at traditional street games such as hopscotch, hula hoop and ball games, as well as donkey rides, skateboarding, dancing and creating pavement art and go-karts.

Carl Dalton, manager of the community play and activities development unit, said: "This event is all about giving children the experience of play, trying out different activities and bringing children together to make friends and play with children from different backgrounds."

The Bradford Play Network, a voluntary organisation, works to promote recreation throughout the district, and put on activities at the event and gave out road safety advice packs.

Janet Jewltt of the Play Network, said: "The way we used to play when we were young is a lost art because of the fears of both parents and children concerning stranger danger and increased traffic."

Evaluation of Playday West 2007

Click the link to View the report