Parents 'halt adventurous play'

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An ICM survey commissioned by Play England found 50% of children aged between seven and 12 were not allowed to climb a tree without adult supervision.

Half of those surveyed said they had been stopped from climbing trees because it was too dangerous, while 21% had been banned from playing conkers and 17% were not allowed to play chase.

Adrian Voce, Director of Play England, said: "Playing is an essential part of growing up.

"Adventurous play both challenges and excites children and helps instil critical life skills. Constantly wrapping children in cotton wool can leave them ill equipped to deal with stressful or challenging situations they might encounter later in life.

"Children both need and want to push their boundaries in order to explore their limits and develop their abilities."

The research also found children were less likely to play outdoors than their parents had been while they were growing up. Of the adults surveyed, 70% said they had experienced most their adventure play outdoors.

In comparison, just 29% of children experienced adventure play outdoors, with most recreation taking place either in the home, or a designated playground.

The Survey was carried out to mark Playday, which takes place on August 6.

Researchers interviewed 1,030 children and young people aged 7-16, and 1,030 adults aged at least 18 during July 2007.