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3rd August 2005 Children afraid to play outside A new survey carried out ahead of national Playday has found that children believe the world outside is too dangerous. The survey of more than 670 children found 40 per cent of the young said they do not play outside as much as they would like while around 20 per cent admitted they enjoy themselves in the fresh air for an hour a week or less. Patricia Durr, of the Children's Society, said, "The Playday survey is a wake-up call to both central and local government that play needs to be a real priority. "Play is about imagination, exploration and fun, but it's also how children learn how to interact and share with each other, and other social skills. "We must protect children's right to play and ensure every child has access to outdoor public space. Play isn't a luxury, it's a fundamental part of a child's psychological and physical development." Playday 2005, which takes place on Wednesday 3rd August, has the theme 'Fit for Play?' and is highlighting the importance of outdoor play and the need for safe facilities. The annual event, which is co-ordinated by the Children's Play Council and the The Children's Society, is a special annual day of local events organised by local people when children and adults everywhere celebrate the child's right to play. Now in it's eighteenth year, the event involves over 100,000 children across the UK. The children surveyed in the study also felt they did not have enough time for outdoor play and the results are disappointing for Government campaigners trying to persuade Britain's children to take up more active pursuits and healthier lifestyles. In April, a Department of Health report highlighted concerns over the increasing levels of obesity amongst young children. Where to next?
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