News, Trade Press Releases And Holiday Park News

Happiness Must Go Together With Health
Posted by Nina (nina) on Oct 02 2011
News, Trade Press Releases And Holiday Park News >> Suppliers Product Updates

 
 
HAPPINESS MUST GO TOGETHER WITH HEALTH
 
The Association of Play Industries (API) supports the recent recommendations made by the “Erosion of Childhood” letter, published by the Telegraph on 23/9/2011 and signed by more than 200 academics, authors and children’s charities, encouraging a more play-based curriculum for children.
 
More needs to be done to link education about healthy eating and obesity with better opportunities for play.
 
In response to the letter, Children’s Minister, Sarah Teather, said: “Government can only do so much. As a society, we all have a stake in making sure there is time for family life and children are free to cherish their childhoods.” There was no mention of play.
 
A recent report by UNICEF into the culture of materialism in the UK found that our children are still some of the unhappiest in Europe and have the lowest wellbeing overall of the 21 developed nations surveyed.
 
The report found that children wanted to spend more of their time outdoors and recommended that play facilities be made an active priority of both local and central government.
 
API Chairman, John Croasdale, said: “The UNICEF report and current obesity figures suggest that children want more time and better facilities to play outdoors. We need to further the learning links between childhood obesity and play – particularly in deprived communities where the need is greatest.”
 
The most recent figures from the National Child Measurement Programme show that the prevalence of childhood obesity amongst 10-11 year-olds in England is still at a high of 18% with no change since the programme began in 2007.
 
The API has produced several articles warning of the links between a low standard of health education, particularly for communities deprived of play facilities (Please see attached NCMP data, slide 7) and where there is a high prevalence of obesity:
 
Local Government News – The Crisis for Play (page 48-49)
 
Building for Leisure – Play Gaps (Page 68)
 
Play + Sport Matters – Walking and Access to Play (Page 13)
 
 
 
Editors Notes:
The Association of Play Industries (API) www.api-play.org is the lead trade body within the UK play sector, representing the interests of the manufacturers, installers, designers and distributors of both outdoor and indoor play equipment and safer surfacing. Founded in 1984 it represents approximately 85% of the market with more than 80 members.
 

The API operates under the umbrella of the Federation of Sports and Play Associations (FSPA) the national trade body responsible for representing 18 Associations and over 400 member companies in the UK’s sport and play industries. www.sportsandplay.com

 

Last changed: Oct 05 2011 at 8:37 PM

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