Almost half of parents are worried about finding time to play with their child over the summer holidays, new survey shows
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As the summer holidays begin or continue throughout the UK, almost
half (46%) of parents with primary school-age children are worried
about finding time to play with their child over the long break.
This is mainly because parents are working (52%) and it costs too
much (42%), according to a new survey by the Royal College of
Occupational Therapists (RCOT). The organisation has published new,
free occupational therapy-led advice with easy, no-cost ideas for
parents to play with...Request free
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As the summer holidays begin or continue throughout the UK, almost half (46%) of parents with primary school-age children are worried about finding time to play with their child over the long break. This is mainly because parents are working (52%) and it costs too much (42%), according to a new survey by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). The organisation has published new, free occupational therapy-led advice with easy, no-cost ideas for parents to play with their children over the summer break – and beyond – that will support their development. The survey of 2,000 UK parents of children aged 12 and under found that almost three-quarters (72%) of those with a child aged 4–12 spend more money on playing with their child during the summer holidays than at other times of the year. This is putting a lot of pressure on parents and, combined with time pressures, is causing parents to worry. Play helps children enjoy life more and can also be used as a way to teach them other skills. Occupational therapists work with children and families, either individually or in groups, to support them to do the things they want and need to do, and offer practical solutions to everyday challenges. Barriers to play According to the poll, more than half (51%) of parents with a child aged 12 or under aren’t able to find the time to play with their child every day, and 1 in 100 (1%) admit they never play with their child. On average, parents are only playing with their child on five out of seven days a week. Three in five (60%) parents who play with their child on a weekly basis would like to spend more time playing with their child. The top three things preventing parents from playing with their child are:
However, 1 in 25 (4%) parents say they’re prevented from playing because of their child’s physical or mental health or disability. Research shows that play is essential for all children's health, wellbeing and development, and that children who are usually considered less able to play, and their parents or carers, can hugely benefit from occupational therapy. Cost-of-living The cost-of-living crisis is a big factor, with almost half (48%) of those who play with their child saying it has affected their ability to play with their child. This is because parents:
Dr Sally Payne, RCOT Professional Adviser for children, young people, and families, says: ‘We all want to spend more time playing with our children, but it can be challenging – especially finding enough time or money to play. When there isn’t time, focus on quality instead of quantity. Even a few minutes a day can help your child’s development, and there are plenty of things you can do that don’t cost a thing: jumping in puddles, building a den, or playing with a ball together outside. ‘Play is a fundamental right for children and young people. It helps children feel not only happy and fulfilled, but also part of a community. It helps them grow and develop whilst learning about themselves and the world around them. It develops a huge range of skills that they'll continue using throughout their lives, including taking turns, working together, creativity, problem-solving, and using imagination. ‘Playing is also important for its own sake – every child should be able to play in a way that is fun for them. Play looks different for every child, but is of equal importance to every child, no matter their situation or abilities. As occupational therapists, we help children with developmental difficulties and disabilities to be able to play, so that all children can achieve their right to play.’ Benefits of play RCOT new, free occupational therapy-led advice to help parents make the most of their time playing with their children over the summer break – and beyond – that will support their development. It includes:
The full list of RCOT’s expert tips for play to support development are available at: rcot.co.uk/play. Vernice Dale, 39, from London, a mother whose 8-year-old son, Joshua, has benefitted from occupational therapy at children’s therapy charity, Growing Hope, says: ‘In my case play and occupational therapy came hand in hand. Play allowed Joshua to express himself in different ways and to learn different ways to cope with his emotions at the same time. There was one game that he played where he laid on a scooter board and picked up different emotion pictures, putting them in categories of fast, just right and slow. This helped me learn a different technique to help Joshua. This engine game was fantastic, and it helped him to respond well. Overall, the play side of therapy helps me understand Joshua and his emotions.’ Dr Naomi Graham, a children’s occupational therapist and Founder and CEO of Growing Hope, says: ‘Play is an essential part of everyday life for all children – play in and of itself has significant positive impacts on children’s wellbeing and development. At Growing Hope, we see children with a range of additional needs. Children in our clinics, and in my doctorate research, have told us how important play is to them. Play for children with cerebral palsy who use a wheelchair full-time is often overlooked, and yet, in my research children told me in detail about their play experiences which to an outsider might not look like play. I videoed one child sitting in her wheelchair with a toy pushchair in front of her, occasionally talking. In her interview she gave me a detailed account of how she took her baby out and about and what that looked like. Without her perspective we may not have recognised this as a play experience. I want to ensure that every child’s right to play from their own perspective is realised.’ Occupational therapy for children Children’s occupational therapists work in health, social care and education settings, for example hospitals, young offenders’ institutions, and schools. The children they work with often have greater needs, such as neurodivergence, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, or mental health problems. They work with children, young people and their families to provide personalised, practical solutions for a better quality of life. Parents who feel their child could benefit from occupational therapy should speak to their GP, childcare/education provider or visit rcot.co.uk for help finding an occupational therapist. - ENDS - About the survey This online survey of 2,000 parents of 0–12-year-olds was commissioned by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and conducted by market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society's code of conduct. Data was collected between 07/07/2023 and 12/07/2023. All participants are double-opted in to take part in research. This survey was overseen and edited by the OnePoll research team. OnePoll are MRS Company Partners, corporate membership of ESOMAR and Members of the British Polling Council. Additional stats from the survey
About the Royal College of Occupational Therapists The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) is the professional body for occupational therapy. We’ve championed the profession and the people behind it for over 90 years; and today, we represent over 36,000 members across the UK. Then and now, we’re here to help achieve life-changing breakthroughs for our members, for the people they support and for society as a whole. We support and enable members to learn, research, teach, practise and continuously improve their knowledge and skills. We also work with healthcare commissioners, political leaders and others throughout society to position occupational therapy as a solution at the heart of health and social care. Occupational therapists see beyond diagnoses and limitations to hopes and aspirations. They look at relationships between the activities you do every day – your occupations – alongside your illness or disability and your environment to recommend adjustments. These are practical, realistic and personal to you, to help you achieve the breakthroughs you need to elevate your everyday life. |