This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Researchers have found that children are now nearly 11 when they first start playing outdoors without supervision. That's more than a year older than their parents' generation, with parents reporting they played outdoors at age 9.
This "generational play gap" has been revealed as the new Outdoor Play Research Center launches at Exeter. The center will be led by Professor Helen Dodd, one of the nation's foremost experts in child psychology and play. Professor Dodd, director of the Outdoor Play Research Center, said, "The generational play gap revealed in our new research provides more evidence that children across the country are missing out on opportunities for independent outdoor play.
Many of us have fond childhood memories of playing out until the streetlights came on, enjoying our first taste of freedom. Yet today's children are missing out on those same experiences. "Importantly, we know that independent outdoor play is linked to better health and well-being, including lower anxiety, more positive emotions and more physical activity—some of the key childhood health challenges that we currently face.
The Outdoor Play Research Center is being founded on the principle that we must do better for our children. We want to see a step change for children's independent outdoor play. We will conduct the scientific research needed to drive this change and work in partnership with a wide range of organizations to deliver it." Nearly 2,000 UK parents and caregivers of children ages 5–11 participated in the latest British Children's Play Survey.
The results, to be published in a paper called "Children's Play and Independent Mobility in 2025," found children are now allowed independent outdoor play at an average age of 10.8, compared with 9.7 for their parents. This delay is significant, as independent outdoor play is linked to improved mental health and well-being—highlighting the need for policymakers to treat play as a public health priority. Experts at the Outdoor Play Research Center have cited a lack of accessible, high-quality spaces for play, along with increased screen time, risks posed by busy roads and changes in social norms, as potential reasons for the delay.
Research recently published by members of the Research Center has shown clear links between outdoor, adventurous play and children's mental health and well-being. For example, they found more outdoor play is linked to fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, and more happiness in 5–11-year-olds, highlighting the powerful benefits outdoor play has for children's mental health. The report also highlights broader patterns in children's play behavior: Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. d research that matter—daily or weekly.
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