This document discusses reclaiming London's streets for play. It notes that outdoor play for children has declined significantly, with children today having only 10% of the play space compared to 30 years ago. While 71% of adults report playing outside daily as children, only 21% of children do so today. The document argues that allowing children to play in streets provides physical, emotional, mental, and social benefits. It promotes organizations working to establish home zones and play streets that reclaim road space for child's play.

1. Adrian Voce
Reclaiming streets for play

2. It keeps them off the streets…
Why and how to reclaim London’s streets for play
Adrian Voce OBE
www.policyforplay.com

3. Just child’s play…
• Physical health
• Emotional growth
• Mental health and well-being
• Motor-skills
• Speech
• Creativity
• Acquisition of social and behavioural skills
• Intellectual and educational development
• Survival of species…
Play for a Change, University of Gloucestershire
(Play England)

4. Four generations
of the Thomas
family.
Natural England, 2007

5. Decline in outdoor play
Some estimate that children have less than 10 per cent of
the space to play compared to even 30 years ago
Mayer-Hillman Study
71% of adults report to have played in the street or area
near their home everyday when they were a child. This
compares to only 21% of children today.
ICM poll for Playday 2007

6. Past Present Future?

7. Skylarks and canaries

9. homezones.org.uk playingout.net
londonplay.org.uk sustrans.org.uk
livingstreets.org.uk
playengland.org.uk
policyforplay.com
@adevoce