According to the group, fears over abduction and busy roads mean that parents would rather their children took part in indoor, supervised activities. However, with recent research published in the Archives of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine journal suggesting that too much 'screen time' in front of televisions or computers can affect children's health by raising their blood pressure, parents may be looking for other ways to keep their child entertained in a safe, fun environment, such as an indoor play centres.

The Play Providers Association represents high quality providers of indoor play centres in the UK. All members conform to a strict code of practice to ensure minimum industry standards are reached. Look for the PPA logo where you take your children to play and then sit back and relax whilst they have great fun running, jumping, sliding, climbing and burning heaps of calories!! Alternatively take off your shoes and go and play too!!! 

American research has also concluded that Indoor Unstructured play provides children with 'key for life skills'.

Safe, fun environments that allow children to play together gives children the opportunity to learn how to socialise as well as enjoy themselves. Children benefit from unstructured play because they are allowed to pursue their own interests, it has been claimed.

Speaking to US Paper, the Herald, earlier this month, childcare expert Sandra Welsh explained that the benefits of kids play is often overlooked by parents. She suggested that it is about more than just "having fun" and can help boost children's development, such as fine motor skills.