Launch of the Outdoor Play Alarm
The official launch of the Outdoor Play Alarm took place on Wednesday 3 April at 2:00 p.m. at Natuurspeeltuin De Hoef in Utrecht. More than 100 children activated the first outdoor play alarm together with ambassadors Anne Appelo, Erik Scherder, Juf Merel and special guests Mayor Sharon Dijksma and Meester Jesper. The Outdoor Play Alarm could also be heard on radio stations at around 2:00 p.m.
On the first Wednesday of every month, this alarm goes off to encourage parents and children to go outside. Other well-known Dutch celebrities also recognise the need for outdoor play. Tommie Christaan, Nienke Plas, Bibi Breijman, Pauline Wingelaar, Ellen Hoog and Roxeanne Hazes are sounding the alarm through their social media channels.
Erik Scherder, professor of Neuropsychology: “If we do not get children to play outside anymore, we will burden entire generations with mental and physical problems! So make sure that children start playing outside again.”
400,000 Children Staying Indoors
In the Netherlands, more than 400,000 children do not play outside or hardly ever do so. This is a worrying trend that Jantje Beton is tirelessly fighting. According to Jantje Beton, playing outside is not only the most fun, but also the most important part of children’s healthy development. The best recipe for growing up healthy is simply outside on the streets. However, there are too few safe play areas. The greater performance pressure on children is also a reason for playing outside less. In addition, the temptation to seek entertainment indoors behind a screen is strong.
Alarming Research Figures
For years, Jantje Beton has been monitoring developments in children’s outdoor play habits, together with research agency Verian (formerly Kantar Public). Parents and children aged 6 to 12 took part in the study this time. The figures are alarming!
In 2022, the number of children who played outside every day in their free time without supervision was already disappointingly low (just 25%). In 2024, this number fell further, nearly halving (to just 13%). The number of children who never or hardly ever play outside in their free time without an adult has grown by 60% in two years. Half of all children would like to play outside more. But for parents, the lack of play areas and social safety is more often than in 2022 a reason to keep their child indoors. Even though they consider outdoor play very important for their growing child (rating: 8.8). Almost all children say they feel cheerful and happy after playing outside.
Pauline van der Loo, managing director of Jantje Beton: “Jantje Beton cannot solve this problem alone. That is why we work together with other charities that stand up for children. And we involve parents and neighbourhoods in our work. But local and national governments also have a responsibility. Only as a society can we ensure that more children play outside more often. In addition to commitment, funding is also needed. We will continue to fight tirelessly, but we are now sounding the alarm. If we do nothing now, the physical, social and mental health of our children will be seriously endangered. We must not let that happen.”
You can register for the Outdoor Play Alarm here.
You can download the report here.