92 Excellence in Schools
91% of Parents Know Play Matters. So Why Don’t We Do It? NEW RESEARCH FROM NORD ANGLIA EDUCATION REVEALS THE HIDDEN COST OF ALWAYS BEING ON
F rom sleep scores to step counts, culture that many are beginning to question. New research from Nord Anglia Education shows parents believe that constant tracking and optimisation of daily life is making us more anxious and less happy. productivity hacks have infiltrated modern life, creating an optimisation The Permission to Play Report, based on responses from more than 500 UAE parents, as well as education experts, explores attitudes towards play, wellbeing, and modern life in an era increasingly defined by performance, measurement, and achievement. Survey of 500+ parents reveals 82% say it’s harder to switch off now than when they were children More than half believe constant tracking and optimisation is increasing anxiety We Haven’t Forgotten. We’ve Just Stopped Giving Ourselves Permission The encouraging finding in Nord Anglia Education’s Permission to Play report is that parents have not abandoned play entirely. Six in ten say they played in the last week. They understand its value, remember the joy it brought them as children, and overwhelmingly recognise
Between work, family commitments and the pressure to always be productive, play increasingly competes for space in adult lives. Our feeds are filled with gurus, creators and influencers promoting performance and self- improvement. Steps, sleep, exercise, calories and productivity can all be measured, tracked and analysed. And while these tools can be helpful, the research suggests they have quietly changed our relationship with leisure.
Nearly 8 in 10 parents feel pressure to use their free time productively. 34% say they feel pressure to improve every area of their lives. Only 3 in 10 Only 3 in 10 say they have enough time for themselves.
“Play is an integral part of a balanced, healthy society. But somewhere along the way, adults have forgotten that” Elizabeth Lamb, Regional Managing Director, Middle East, Nord Anglia Education
its role in their own wellbeing. The challenge is not awareness. It is something more subtle.
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