Children are being “driven indoors by a lack of safe spaces to play, move and socialise freely,” experts have warned.

With childhood obesity on the rise, a nation of unhappy teens, and more children facing mental health struggles, a report by The Centre for Young Lives looked into what could be done to improve the lives of children in England.

The report – featuring insights from 20 experts – found children are growing up “sedentary, scrolling and alone” because of limited opportunities to play.

And it’s not just screens and social media that are the problem.

Why is playtime on the decline?

Play is hugely important for children, as one child told the report’s authors: they enjoy playing “because then I’m free”. Yet experts said in the last 15 years in particular, playtime has been “quietly squeezed out” citing barriers including:

• cuts to........
  

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