Latest news with #outdoorplay
Khaleej Times
16-07-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
Picking berries, sleepovers: How UAE parents are keeping kids off screens this summer
The renewed focus on group activities has not only revived the spirit of childhood play but also strengthened family bonds Once filled with the lively sounds of children playing traditional outdoor games, neighbourhoods today are much quieter. In recent years, the UAE has noticed a change in how children spend their free time, with many now opting to stay indoors rather than engaging in outdoor play. However, many parents still take proactive steps to reduce screen time and reintroduce their children to interactive, screen-free play. This renewed focus on group activities has not only revived the spirit of childhood play but also strengthened family bonds, especially during the summer holidays, when children often grow restless with too much free time. The nature of play itself has undergone a significant change. Games that once defined neighbourhood childhoods, such as hide-and-seek, role-playing, and football, have given way to indoor-friendly alternatives. Parents often prefer keeping their children safe inside the home, especially since interpersonal connections have weakened and fewer families know their neighbours well. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Even outdoor play no longer carries the same sense of safety and fun it once did. Many children who play outside are often seen riding e-scooters and electric bicycles, or simply wandering the streets with little awareness of passing cars. What used to be a space for carefree games is now marked by traffic risks and safety concerns. As previously reported by Khaleej Times, many children are requesting e-scooters and bikes that are not only potentially dangerous but also illegal for children under 16 years old. Competition mode Emirati mother Alya Abdullah, a mother of four based in Dubai, described to Khaleej Times how she keeps her children engaged. "I like my children to stay active with different activities. At home, I organise competitions and give out motivation prizes, even if it's just Dh1 for the winner." During breaks at work, Alya browses social media for trending activities to try out with her children. "We do drawing and colouring contests, and I organise fun games that test their memory, reaction time, or speed, and when I am busy, I let them play in the backyard," she said. Each year, she organises a berry-picking challenge. "I have my kids pick the berries from the tree as a competition, and then I give them away to our neighbours and family." Alya doesn't mind screen time as long as it's balanced. "My children still play hide-and-seek and other popular games, though they now go by different names. "I don't have a built-in pool, so I bought an inflatable one and added water guns and balloons to create a fun, outdoor experience," she added. Card games While many children attend summer camps and various summer activities, some still have large blocks of free time, often because they stay up late. Sharjah-based Reem Hassan, a mother of two children aged 10 and 14, said her children are enrolled in multiple programmes yet still experience boredom. "They play football, swim, join physical activities, and even take summer jobs, but by the weekend, they are bored," she said. To keep things lively, Reem shops with her children for group games at the start of every summer vacation. "We buy games like Uno, Sequence, and Monopoly, and invite their cousins to stay over. I also buy trivia games with funny dares and cultural questions from bookstores and online." She's not just an observer, but joins the fun. "I play with them and sometimes paint their faces to break the routine," Reem added. Maryam, a mother of three from Dubai, said her children enjoy sleepovers at their cousins' homes during vacation, and she often hosts relatives as well. "On weekends, I organise cultural competitions for both adults and kids." She is also open to digital play, provided it's meaningful. "There are so many apps now that offer great challenges — not just cultural trivia but life skills too. Online games like 'Tarbaa' and 'Seen Geem' are some of our favourites." Maryam added that she prefers online games that allow her children to interact with friends. "They love playing 'Fun Run' and 'We Play' — it gives them a chance to compete, laugh, and stay connected with family and friends." And when outdoor time is needed, she sets up a pool at her house or lets her kids ride bikes around the neighbourhood.
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Fury as schools ‘to BAN outdoor playtime for kids across UK' as playgrounds deemed ‘unsafe' in hot weather
SCHOOLS have been urged to ban outdoor play for kids in extreme heat - sparking fury from critics. The controversial idea has been put forward by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which warns in a new report that sun-scorched tarmac, concrete and artificial grass are making school grounds dangerously hot and putting children at risk. 2 The charity is urging schools and the government to act — and some schools appear to be responding by introducing so-called 'hot play' restrictions, which see children kept inside during breaktimes when surfaces are deemed too hot to use safely. While the guidance is well-intentioned, critics say the measures are excessive and risk doing more harm than good. Parents, campaigners and politicians have voiced anger over the bans, arguing that children should be encouraged to play outside — not kept indoors because of warm weather. Chris McGovern, a former headteacher and chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: 'I taught for 35 years. "Any teacher knows that the worst thing you can do on a hot day is to keep children confined in the classroom. 'Of course, there are always cases where a vulnerable child may need to stay indoors, and there should be areas of shade within the playground. "But generally, the idea of locking all children inside is completely misguided. 'Just as in cold weather, they should be out running around. "So we're making them into wimps. We don't want to make children into wimps. "We want to toughen them up a little bit.' He also raised concerns about the wider consequences for mental health and development, warning that keeping children indoors could encourage more screen time and less physical activity- concerns first reported by The Telegraph. Others have echoed his concerns. Tory MP Greg Smith said: 'It's absolute nonsense to attempt to wrap children in bubble wrap and away from anything that might be a bit uncomfortable. 'The correct answer is to take precautions in heat – hats, sun cream, light clothing – not hide from warm weather.' Former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg questioned WWF's role in the debate, saying: 'I am surprised that the World Wildlife Fund thinks children count as wildlife. I am not sure the children of England are that feral. 'Letting children enjoy the sunshine is only natural, and I fear these woke charities have too much time and money on their hands.' WWF, however, argues that its suggestions are grounded in evidence and environmental urgency. The charity says climate change is already making school grounds more extreme and less safe, with traditional building materials intensifying the effects of both heat and heavy rain. Rosalind Mist, WWF's director of campaigns, education and youth, said: 'We can all see that we're facing more and more extreme weather due to climate change, from heatwaves to intense downpours. 'The current regulations are leading to schools being particularly vulnerable to risks of overheating and flooding. 'Luckily, there is an easy and reasonably cheap solution – adding more nature and more natural surfaces to school grounds. "Not only does this help mitigate the effects of extreme weather, it also has a wide range of benefits for pupils, from increasing resilience and concentration to better mental health.' WWF is now urging the Government to update school premises regulations — which haven't seen major changes since the 1950s — and introduce minimum requirements for green space in school environments. The charity says greener playgrounds don't just help with heatwaves and heavy rain, they boost kids' focus, behaviour and mental health too. Currently, there is no legal obligation for schools to include natural surfaces in play areas, despite mounting research suggesting the benefits of doing so. Campaigners believe that reintroducing greenery, such as trees, shrubs and shaded zones, would allow children to continue playing safely outdoors even during periods of hot weather. But in the absence of such infrastructure, some schools have taken matters into their own hands by restricting outdoor time. Those decisions have sparked backlash from families who say the approach is heavy-handed and that a bit of sunshine shouldn't mean the end of outdoor play. For now, as climate concerns grow and summer temperatures climb, the tension between environmental caution and childhood freedom looks set to continue, with schoolyards becoming the latest battleground in the climate conversation.
Telegraph
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
Schools ban children from playing outside during heatwaves
Schools are banning children from playing outside during heatwaves. Teachers are keeping pupils inside for 'hot play' breaks when their playgrounds are deemed to be 'too hot to use safely'. The move is designed to keep children away from outdoor surfaces that can become very hot to touch in the sun. But the concept has been branded 'absolute nonsense' by critics, who warned that it risked raising a generation of 'wimps' taught to ' hide from warm weather '. 'Hot play' Schools routinely hold 'wet play' sessions when it rains, where children play indoors between lessons instead of going outside. But 'hot play', which is the equivalent for heatwaves, appears to be a relatively new idea. The practice has been highlighted by the WWF, the environmental group, which is calling for schools to use more natural surfaces, as opposed to artificial ones, to 'mitigate the effects of extreme weather'. Chris McGovern, a former head teacher and chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, warned that keeping pupils indoors during hot weather was the 'worst thing' for them. He said: 'I taught for 35 years. Any teacher knows that the worst thing you can do on a hot day is to keep children confined into the classroom. It's about the worst thing you can do. 'Of course, there can be situations where a particular child needs to stay indoors, and of course there should be areas of shade within the playground. But using common sense, it's the worst possible way forward for helping these children. 'Just as in cold weather, they should be out running around. So we're making them into wimps. We don't want to make children into wimps. We want to toughen them up a little bit.' He also warned that constraints on children's freedom risked damaging their mental health in the long term. 'Absolute nonsense' He added: 'It's an awful childhood we're inflicting on children. And, of course, it encourages them to use their iPads and mobile phones if they're confined. 'The worst thing they can be doing is staying indoors, playing on their mobile phones, and this is sort of encouraging them to do that. So yeah, it's the opposite of what we want.' Greg Smith, the Tory MP for Mid Buckinghamshire, said it was 'absolute nonsense' to attempt to 'wrap children in bubble wrap and away from anything that might be a bit uncomfortable'. 'The correct answer is to take precautions in heat – hats, sun cream, light clothing – not hide from warm weather,' he said. Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former Tory Cabinet minister, added: 'I am surprised that the World Wildlife Fund [WWF] thinks children count as wildlife, I am not sure the children of England are that feral. 'Letting children enjoy the sunshine is only natural and I fear these woke charities have too much time and money on their hands.' More green space needed The WWF claimed that in many schools, natural features such as grass and trees have been replaced with heat-retaining materials such as tarmac, which can 'exacerbate the impact of high temperatures'. The charity is urging the Government to update its 'outdated' school premises regulations, which it said have remained largely unchanged since the 1950s, to ensure pupils have access to natural surfaces such as grass, soil and sand. At the moment, there is no specific requirement for schools to provide green space for physical education and play. In addition to becoming very hot, the WWF warned that artificial surfaces can leave playgrounds vulnerable to flooding, which is becoming a mounting concern due to climate change. Rosalind Mist, the charity's director of campaigns, education and youth, said: 'We can all see that we're facing more and more extreme weather due to climate change, from heatwaves to intense downpours. 'The current regulations are leading to schools being particularly vulnerable to risks of overheating and flooding. 'Luckily, there is an easy and reasonably cheap solution – adding more nature and more natural surfaces to school grounds. Not only does this help mitigate the effects of extreme weather, it also has a wide range of benefits for pupils, from increasing resilience and concentration to better mental health.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Schools are blasted for 'raising a generation of wimps' after calls for 'hot play' sessions when heatwaves hit Britain
A 'generation of wimps' could be raised in Britain as schools are now banning children from playing outside during heatwaves. Teachers are opting to keep pupils inside for 'hot play' breaks when playgrounds are deemed to be too hot for the kids to use safely. Staff have been urged to make the change in order to keep students away from tarmac and metal shelters which can become hot to touch during heatwaves, The Telegraph reported. The move has been labelled 'absolute nonsense' and critics have warned it could create a 'generation of wimps' who hide from warm weather. Schools now hold 'wet play' sessions during periods of rain, with children allowed to play indoors instead of outside, but the 'hot play' sessions are a new phenomenon. The idea was highlighted by the WWF, which has called for schools to use more natural surfaces such as grass instead of tarmac and astro-turf to mitigate the effects of the rising temperatures. The charity said it had come across the concept of 'hot play' from schools and parents. Chris McGovern, a former headteacher and chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, warned that keeping pupils indoors during heatwaves was the 'worst thing' for them. Teachers are opting to keep pupils inside for 'hot play' breaks when playgrounds are deemed to be too hot for the kids to use safely He said: 'I taught for 35 years. Any teacher knows that the worst thing you can do on a hot day is to keep children confined to the classroom. 'Of course, there can be situations where a particular child needs to stay indoors, and of course there should be areas of shade within the playground. 'We don't want to make children into wimps. We want to toughen them up a little bit.' He also warned that the rigid constraints on pupils risked damaging their mental health in the long term. Greg Smith, the Tory MP for Mid Buckinghamshire, said it was 'absolute nonsense' to attempt to 'wrap children in bubble wrap' in such a way. He said simple measures such as a hat and suncream would help children stay safe in the sun. The WWF has called on the government to update regulations on school premises which have barely changed since the 1950s. They want to ensure pupils have access to natural surfaces like grass and sand, warning artificial surfaces increased the risk of flooding.
The Sun
05-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Aldi's £8 middle aisle bargain will keep your kids cool & entertained for hours in the summer sun
IF you're looking for a way to keep your kids entertained in the summer heat, Aldi has just the thing. This garden buy will provide hours of entertainment during the school holidays. 2 Whether you're working from home or trying to catch up on chores, this Specialbuy is sure to give you some peace in the hot weather. Aldi shoppers can pick up a Sandpit for just £7.99 from Thursday, July 10. This middle aisle buy is described as "multi-functional", making it a worthwhile investment for parents. "This Sandpit shell could be used as sandpit or as paddling pool for hours of fun in the sun," the product description read. Product details The blue shell is approximately 18 centimetres deep, making it safe for most children to use. However, you should never leave smaller children unattended around any pool, even one this shallow. Simply place this shell in your garden and use your garden hose to fill it up. Then everyone from your children to your pets can take a dip to cool down. And you can even park up in your garden chair and soak your feet at the end of a long day. Sandpit Alternatively, if the temperature drops a few degrees, you can convert this shell into a sandpit. Again, avoid leaving young children unaccompanied in this contraption. Pick up a few buckets, spades, and toy diggers and you can guarantee hours of fun for your little ones. Just be careful to avoid a viral parenting trend that involves swapping out sand for a more hazardous material in your sandpit. Other summer buys Plus, an easy-to-store paddling pool is also available from The Range for just £8.99. And The Sun tested a variety of paddling pools currently on the market. IT can be really difficult - and costly - to keep kids cool when it's hot outside. But Fabulous Digital Senior Reporter and mum-of-two Sarah Bull shares five ways to help, and they won't break the budget either. Strip them off It might sound simple, but stripping kids off at home can really help them regulate their temperature when it's warm outside. Just remember to regularly apply suncream, as more of their skin will be exposed to the sun. Cool down bedrooms before nighttime When it's hot outside, it can be difficult for kids to go to sleep - especially if their bedroom feels like an oven. If you have a room that's not in direct sunshine, keep the windows open to let in a breeze. It's also a good idea to keep the curtains closed, to prevent the room from heating up. Wear a hat Another simple technique, but one that really works. Make sure that if your kids are playing outside, they've got a hat on. It keeps their face and head shielded from the sun, and also helps if you've got a little one who struggles with bright sunlight. If your tot struggles to keep a hat on, try one with a strap that goes under the chin to help. Avoid the car The car can be one of the hottest places during a heatwave, and often takes a long time to cool down. If you have the option, it's better to stay at home rather than taking kids out anywhere in a hot car. Stay hydrated This is always important, but even more so in a heatwave. Make sure you're regularly reminding your kids to have a drink, and top them up with cool liquids whenever you can. Use ice too to ensure it's as cold as it can possibly be. The price of a popular paddling pool has been slashed ahead of the summer holidays. And you can even pick up a paddling pool for just £1.99 this summer season. Plus, a £5 cooling gadget available from Home Bargains that's a hot weather must-have. Five more heatwave gadgets that are currently on sale for £15 or less. Aldi also has a £15 gadget that keeps your home cool all summer long.
