Where do the children play?

While there is still some debate about whether or not children play less today than they did in the past, few would argue that they play differently. There is a good deal of concern that children are less involved in physically active outdoor play today because their traditional playgrounds – the backyards, streets and vacant spaces – are now less accessible. Why this is the case, and why it should be something which concerns us, are questions which are addressed in this paper. The discussion concludes by examining ways in which outdoor play might be made more accessible to children.