Only half of pre-school parents play with their children every day

A recent survey revealed a significant decline in daily playtime for young children. Only half of UK parents with under-sixes now play with their kids every day, a sharp drop & striking statistic in The Sunday Times over the weekend.

This lack of playtime is a serious concern, as experts like Play England warn it can negatively impact a child's vocabulary, future reading skills, and overall development.

However, the issue is complex and not solely the fault of parents. Many families are struggling with long work hours, rising living costs, and complicated childcare. A child psychology professor explained, "Because of the cost-of-living crisis, some parents are having to work longer hours, which will take time away from playing with their children, especially if the parents are stressed and tired." She noted that for some, the daily routine is a quick "get up, drop off at nursery, pick up, bath time," leaving no time for fun, messy activities like finger painting.

​Anita Frost Founder of Green Bean Studios comments "It's important not to assign blame. The focus should be on supporting families to ensure they have the time, space, energy, and the correct products and resources to play with their children. Furthermore, when parents are occupied, for example, making dinner, children should still be engaged with the right toys to support their next stage of development."

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Anita is a child development expert, entrepreneur, and author who has won multiple awards. Her accolades include recognition for designing innovative books and toys that fundamentally enhance fun, early-years learning, preparing children for school.
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The good news is that Green Bean Studios® is actively working to address this. As a multi-award-winning, leading "edutainment" brand based in the Northwest of Manchester, Green Bean supports children under five to play, learn, and go on adventures. The brand's commitment and impact are clear: it has been backed by Innovate UK, invested in by KPMG, and has partnered with the National Literacy Trust for this year's Earth Day. Green Bean is here to stay and is making a significant difference.

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Check out how Green Bean supports our little ones in their first fun learning steps through our ranges of children's books, eco toys and games, along with read-along storytelling available on YouTube. At Green Bean Studios, we are committed to the next generation, helping our children to be school-ready and ensuring they can enjoy those early years. By providing the necessary products and resources, we help them have fun in this space. This is more than just fun; it's the foundation for our children to do great things, as play and reading are crucial for them to become our future workforce.