A group of Tauranga parents believe Playcentre could be the answer to experts' concerns today's children's play involves excessive screen time and insufficient opportunity for movement, time in nature, creativity, and learning risk management.

Auckland University of Technology researchers Dr Scott Duncan and Julie McPhee recently published the results from their 2015 ‘State of Play Survey', which provides a snapshot of New Zealand parents' perceptions of play behaviours and opportunities for children aged from under two up to 18 years and how these influence the level of unstructured play and levels of risk permitted by parents.

Ben and Anara Dewhirst climbing trees at Te Puna Quarry Park, aged 4 years and 2 years. Photos: Supplied.

The survey found New Zealanders have become reliant on technology for activities of daily living, and as a result many children are living lives which are more sedentary and experience less adventure and risk than their parents enjoyed in their own childhoods.

'This ‘new normal' for our children is founded on insufficient movement, excessive screen time, and less time spent in the natural environment. Play that is challenging, stimulating, and involves some physical risk is an important contributor to healthy growth and development in children,” says Dr Duncan in the report.

'There is a growing concern that our increasingly risk averse society is contributing to a generation of ‘bubble-wrapped' children that have limited opportunities to play creatively, instigate physical activity, overcome challenges independently, and learn to manage risks appropriately.”

Otumoetai Playcentre president Paula Dowds says Playcentre's child-initiated free-play philosophy, backed by actively encouraging positive parenting and valuing parents and families as children's best first teachers, gives families a great start to combating these very concerns.

'Playcentres are well known as experts in messy, creative play such as finger painting; water, paints and clay play; and playdough.

"However, our sessions also offer chances for children from zero to six years to take part in physical activity challenges, junk construction, carpentry using real tools, nature and gardening, sand, blocks, collage, cooking, music, family play, books, and much more."

The playcentre has 16 areas of play on offer at each session, "so you will never see children in front of a screen at Playcentre – there is too much else to do".

'Because parents attend with their children, the ratio of adults to children is much higher than any other early childhood education environment. This means there is more people to supervise and support challenging or ‘riskier' play like climbing trees or jumping from a height.”

After attending Otumoetai Playcentre for five years, member Natasha Mitchell has seen how it can ease the fears of risk-averse parents worried their child will hurt themselves if they climb ladders or trees.

'I remember a family who started the same time as we did. At first the mum was constantly saying ‘be careful, be careful!' to her 16-month-old playing on the fort. He was safe, but she was worried because he was up high and her worry was being transferred to him.

"Then after a couple of weeks of seeing other children play there and learning how to do so safely with their parents' support, she started to relax and encourage him too," says Natasha.

'If you're at home with a young child and haven't had a lot of experience with young children, you don't really know what's normal for their age and stage. But because Playcentre sessions cater for children from birth up to six years, there is always someone with a child the same age as yours or a bit older, so you can see children's natural progression as they build skills.

"You soon learn that most children are actually very good at knowing what they can safely do and what is too risky until they've gained more physical skills,” says Natasha.

'You also learn so much from watching other parents and how they interact with their children. Playcentre's philosophy is very much based on the belief children are competent and should be in charge of their own learning and we adults are here to support them.

'The messy play is fantastic too. It's something most people don't want to do at home, but at Playcentre cleaning up is easier because there are plenty of helpers. The children get so much out of it, from motor skills development to just having fun.”

In today's society where fewer people are full-time at-home mums or dads, Paula and Natasha believe attending Playcentre even just one morning a week is even more important.

'It's easy to become isolated from other parents with young children if you are back at work and your children are in care, which is why Playcentre is great for parents as well as children. We also have grandparents who bring their grandchildren along,” says Paula.

In the Western Bay of Plenty there are 12 Playcentres: Otumoetai, Welcome Bay, Mount Maunganui, Tauriko, Te Puke, Pongakawa, Katikati, Pyes Pa, Papamoa, Omokoroa, Greenpark, and Te Puna. Parents and whanau stay at the centres with their children to support their learning and there are also paid, trained session support staff. Parents are encouraged to complete free Playcentre early childhood education qualfications.

This year Playcentre celebrates 75 years in New Zealand. Playcentre Awareness Week is March 6-12.