What children say about play in Wales 2022

Author: Dr David Dallimore
Date: September 2023

This report provides a summary of information collected by local authorities across Wales as part of their Play Sufficiency Assessments in 2022. It presents an analysis of responses from nearly 7,000 children and teenagers in Wales where they tell us about what’s good and what’s not so good about the play opportunities in their local area and how satisfied they are about when, how and where they can play.

The report provides the opportunity for children and teenagers’ voices to be heard, highlighting:

• the importance of play in their lives
• what’s good and what’s not so good about the play opportunities in their local area
• how satisfied they are about when, how and where they can play.

The report includes findings about children and teenagers’ satisfaction with the time, space and permission they have to play, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on their opportunities to play. To emphasise children’s voices throughout, it also features insightful quotes from children and teenagers of all ages from across Wales.