Ban ‘no ball games’ signs to get children off devices, play experts say – BBC News

11 comments

1. The issue is, kids arent going outside anyway. Those signs aren’t the thing stopping them from playing

2. Those signs didn’t stop people in the 80s and 90s. As I said on another post about this, it’s easier to be a football star on fifa than real life

3. Shops where ibgrew up put up massive spiked fences, signs, and upped policy patrolling – to stop children from “gathering”. You reap what you sow

4. This is akin to China fixing their demo crisis by removing the 1 child limit law.

   It’s amazing when people actually try to govern with video game logic.

5. “require developers to consult with children on all new developments”

   Oh dear 😅

6. I’m going to guess that what the headline has focussed on is just an example the organisation has used to show how many public environments have been made hostile to children. 

   And while making the environment less hostile (even accomodating!) isn’t going to address all the problems but it is a part of the solution. And when we’ve got so many overweight and inactive kids we should be prioritising solutions to their poor health. And yes I know as well cutting calories more effective than exercise, but again it’s about encouraging a better lifestyle in the round.

7. These signs are usually put up around roads and carparks no? 

   Aside from the weak headline the article is broader than I expected and makes some good points. 

8. A couple of months ago I was checking out my childhood street where I grew up, the no ball games sign that I broke, ironically by playing ball games, is still there and still broken. I hope the kids are still ignoring it! But that’s doubtful as they’ll all be inside on their phones and concoles

9. I have a little brother who is eight and a cousin who is seven. They are often here after school and play outside with two boys of the same age who live a few houses away. They used to play down by our garages, until a man, seemingly only in his thirties, complained about the noise. Then, they started to play on the road outside our house, until an elderly couple across from us complained about the noise. The noise in question was them being children, being a bit boisterous and kicking a ball around, but never shouting or screaming at all. Now, they just sit inside every day, playing on their devices. That same elderly couple constantly complain about children these days ‘never playing outside’ because they are always ‘inside playing on their technology’ instead. They do not seem to see the irony.

10. My mum lives next to a park where they built a cool basketball court a couple years ago. One of the neighbours (who had just moved in to the place) complained about the noise and so the council took away the baskets. Dreadful behaviour.

11. Banning devices has a far greater chance of getting children out than removing a few signs

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