Key findings
The latest Royal Children’s Hospital National Child Health Poll surveyed Australian parents, asking a series of questions about play.
Key findings include:
Most parents (94%) recognise play is important for a child’s health, including physical wellbeing and brain development.
Less than half (45%) of Australian children play outdoors most days, and 80% of parents would like their children to spend more time outdoors.
Time, safety concerns and weather stop Australian children playing outdoors.
A third of parents (32%) say it is not good for play to involve risk.
Almost two in three parents (61%) often find playing with their child hard or boring, and most parents (58%) are keen to learn more about how to play with their child.
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![Australian Child Health Poll current key findings image 2](https://rchpoll.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/NCHP28Poll-Poll-web-Infographics-1.png)
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Poll report
![Australian Child Health Poll current poll report thumbnail](https://rchpoll.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/NCHP28-Poll-website-thumbnail-100x140-2.jpg)
This report shows that most parents recognise the importance of play for a child’s physical and mental health and wellbeing, however, one-third say they sometimes don’t know how to play with their child and most would like to learn more about how to play with their child.
Download report![Australian Child Health Poll current poll report image](https://rchpoll.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/NCHP28-Poll-web-support-400x366px-1.jpg)
Poll questions
![Australian Child Health Poll current poll report thumbnail](https://rchpoll.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/NCHP28-Poll-website-thumbnail-100x140-2.jpg)
The poll surveyed 2,036 parents in September 2022, who provided data on 3,351 children aged between one month and 17 years.
Download questions![Australian Child Health Poll current poll questions image](https://rchpoll.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/NCHP28-Poll-web-support-400x366px-2.jpg)
In the news
![Australian Child Health Poll current poll media coverage image](https://rchpoll.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/NCHP28-Poll-web-support-400x366px-4.jpg)
Information for parents
- Play is critical to a child’s learning and development.
- Play is equally important at every stage of life, whether it be babies, toddlers and preschoolers, primary school-aged children and through to teenagers and beyond.
- Play inherently involves some risk and it is through managing risk that children learn and develop.
- Digital devices are often used for play and can allow children to express their creativity and curiosity.
- Children do not always need toys or equipment to play with – they can play with inexpensive and everyday items or without anything at all.
- Children can play either by themselves, with siblings or with a friend.
- Structured and unstructured play can happen indoors or outdoors.
- Outdoor play gives children the chance to explore, be active, recognise and solve problems, test physical limits and grow confidence.
Resources
- Kids Health Information Fact sheet: Play
- Raising Children Network: Babies play and learning
- Raising Children Network: Toddlers play and learning
- Raising Children Network: School-age play, media and technology
- Raising Children Network: Raising Children Network: Preschoolers play and learning
- Raising Children Network: Play Australia
- Playgroup Australia
- National Association for the Education of Young Children: 10-things-every-parent-play
![Australian Child Health Poll current poll useful links image](https://rchpoll.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/NCHP28-Poll-web-support-400x366px-3.jpg)
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[…] children today are spending less time engaging in unrestricted play outside. A recent study by Royal Children’s Hospital national child health poll found that 45% of Australian children play outdoors most days, and 80% of parents would like their […]