Fielding Concerns about Street Play

Most of the following are actual questions that we have received from members of the public in response to playing out events, or just about street play in general. Responding to these concerns has helped us clarify our thoughts about street play and made us aware that not everyone shares our views! We really welcome debate and dialogue about these issues and are happy for any queries to be forwarded to us.

Why do children need to play in the street when there are parks nearby?

Parks are great for family outings and for older children who can get there independently but, unless you happen to live right next to a park, it usually involves a special trip, escorted and supervised by adults. Street play is very different. Firstly, it is literally on the doorstep so children can play ‘semi-supervised’ whilst parents get on with other things. This allows for more free, unstructured play, without being under the constant gaze of adults. Secondly, it is a step towards greater independence, giving both children and parents more confidence to gradually extend their ‘freedom to roam’, leading to children eventually being able to get to parks and other local places by themselves.

Why can’t children just play in their own back gardens?

In cities, if you have a garden at all, the space is limited and the experience isolated compared to playing out on the street with other kids. Street play is a way for children to form friendships with other children on their street. It also allows for 'big play' and more vigorous physical activity such as skating, cycling and scooting, which is essential for good long-term health.

Aren’t roads just for cars?

The idea that residential streets are just ‘roads’ i.e. places simply to drive and park cars has crept up on us gradually and has now become an accepted fact. Up until the 1970s, street play was common. 71% of adults played out in the street or neighbourhood as children, compared to only 21% of children today (ICM poll, 2007). The street is our main public space in the city and the place where ‘community’ happens. This project is partly about challenging the perception that streets are nothing but ‘roads’ and demonstrating their possibilities as public and play spaces.

Why do you need to close the road?

Having to organise an official road closure in order to use the street in this way is not an ideal situation and is not a long-term solution. In some cases (for example cul-de-sacs) an official road closure might not be necessary in order for children to safely play in the road. However, the danger from traffic is the main reason that children don’t play outside nowadays. In many residential streets, cars - both parked and moving - dominate to such an extent that play becomes impossible. In this instance a stewarded road closure provides the reassurance parents need to allow their children to play out. A playing out event is a first step towards changing attitudes about the place of cars in residential streets. Ideally, our streets would be spaces where cars and people of all ages can coexist happily. This is our long-term goal.

Won’t this event bring lots of children to my street from elsewhere?

Each playing out event is organised by residents and only publicised through flyers and posters on the host street and immediately neighbouring streets. They are for the children to have a chance to play in their own neighbourhood and not designed to be ‘public events’.

I need peace and quiet to work from home and am worried that children playing outside will disturb me.

Some people would say the sound of children playing is a wonderful thing and something we no longer hear enough of! In cities we all need to live alongside each other and tolerate a reasonable amount of noise from other people’s activities. Even those who don’t drive have to live with traffic noise. Children cannot be contained within houses, cars or designated ‘play areas’. The city is theirs too and it is their right to use the space in the way they need to. If there is a persistent problem with neighbours complaining about children making an unreasonable amount of noise, it may be appropriate to organise a street meeting to discuss it and try to reach a solution everyone is happy with.

I don’t like the idea of children playing unsupervised. Who will make sure they don’t get up to mischief?

‘Getting up to mischief’ is part of childhood, but if any adult sees children playing out on the street seriously misbehaving or causing damage or injury they should take responsibility to speak to them or their parents about it. Being told off by adults other than your parents is an important learning experience!

Won’t it encourage children to think the road is a safe place to play under normal circumstances?

From our experience of organising street parties and playing out events, even young children can understand the difference between an event with a road closure and normal circumstances. These events are a good opportunity for parents to talk to their children about the danger of traffic but also to observe what streets could be like if traffic was less dominant and begin to think about ways to slow cars on their street.

Who’s going to pay if my car or house gets damaged?

The organisers and stewards will do their best to ensure that children play safely and responsibly, but the idea of this project is to encourage free, unsupervised play. In terms of damage to property, the liability situation is no different with a road closure than under normal circumstances i.e. people take responsibility for their own actions. Parents will have ultimate responsibility for their own children.

I need to be able to get my car in and out of the street.

We have timed the events to cause minimum disruption (whilst most people are at work). Although on some narrower streets we may politely request that people park elsewhere if possible, we have also said residents will be allowed car access if needed. Cars coming in or out during the event will be stewarded and drivers asked to use care.

In an unregulated public street, no-one has a legal right to park outside their house or have vehicle access to their street, whether or not the street is closed.

I’m worried that older residents or those without young children will feel left out.

Residents of all ages should be welcomed out onto the street to help supervise and just enjoy the event. At some events, older residents or those without children have helped to steward or just enjoyed meeting neighbours and sharing memories about their own childhood play experiences.

What other benefits are there to having a street play event?

As well as safer streets, another key factor in enabling street play is parental permission. Parents feel anxious about allowing children to play on the street for all sorts of reasons and often feel unsure about the cultural acceptability of letting kids play out on the street. The Playing Out events are a chance for parents to get together and talk about their hopes and fears and support each others’ desire to let children play out. See '10 good reasons' for more info.

NB. If any issues arise during your project which you don’t feel confident in dealing with, we are very happy to have queries passed on to us!