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Majority of parents believe they had a safer, easier and better childhood than their children

We’re calling for the public to get involved with Childhood Day on 6 June

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  • New data shows most UK parents and carers of children aged 18 and under think they had safer childhoods compared to their own children1.
  • Majority of parents want their children to play more in person.
  • The top three barriers identified to in-person play include concerns for children’s safety, the accessibility of going online, and the cost-of-living crisis.
  • We’re calling on the public to play their part for children by getting involved in Childhood Day on 6 June.

Find out how to get involved in Childhood Day

The Data in Detail

The majority of UK parents and carers of children aged 18 and under believe their own childhood was safer (63%), easier (54%) and full of better experiences (55%) than their own children’s.

We commissioned a YouGov survey2 to analyse children’s playing habits, which also found that 59% of participants want their children to play more in person.

A third of parents (33%) believe the biggest barrier to their child playing more in person is concerns over their safety. Other barriers identified include:

  • The accessibility of going online (26%)
  • The cost-of-living crisis, such as preventing families from being able to afford clubs (25%)
  • Online games being more engaging (23%)
  • Lack of friends to play with (23%).

Overall, findings showed that 38% of parents believe their child plays online every day or multiple times a day. This increases once children reach their teens with 53% of parents of 12 to 16-year-olds saying their children within that age group play online at least once a day.  

In-person play also decreases as a child ages. While 40% of total participants agreed their children played in person once a day or more, this decreased to just 27% for those with 12 to 16-year-olds and 16% for those with 17 to 18-year-olds.

How to get involved

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As we prepare for our fourth annual Childhood Day on Friday, 6 June, we’re calling for families to come together and celebrate the joys of childhood, while also encouraging people to play their part to help keep children safe.

People can donate to us this year in Lidl stores, either at cash donation tins or in small amounts via card payment at the till, thanks to digital micro-donation system Pennies.

They can also volunteer at a Childhood Day collection point or take on the Childhood Day Mile.

All the funds raised will go towards helping us deliver vital services, like Childline which supports children at risk.

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Chris Sherwood, CEO of the NSPCC said:

“It is human nature to want something better for your children, but our latest research suggests that parents today believe we are trending in the wrong direction in terms of childhood experiences.

“Lack of in-person play for children is a particular concern for parents, something we all have a responsibility to try and address. Children and young people playing more with their friends and family, both inside and outside, can only be a good thing for their physical and mental health and general sense of wellbeing.  

"The NSPCC’s Childhood Day is all about bringing families, friends and communities together to celebrate childhood and give everyone a really fun and positive in-person experience, while at the same time seeking to raise vital funds for the charity.”

Our partnership with Lidl

Lidl GB is sponsoring Childhood Day for a fourth year as retail sponsor. Lidl GB has been partnered with us for 8 years, raising over £10 million for us in this time.

Lidl GB will be helping to raise awareness of Childhood Day, as well as holding its own events and activities with colleagues and customers across Great Britain to help raise vital funds.

Find out how to get involved in Childhood Day, including taking part in the Childhood Day Mile or volunteering at a fundraising collection.

Get involved with Childhood Day

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References

  1. 1) Of the polled UK parents and carers with children aged 18 and under, 63% believed their own childhood was safer, 54% believed it was easier, and 55% believed theirs was full of better experiences than their own children’s.

  2. 2) The NSPCC worked with YouGov to conduct the survey. They surveyed 4,017 parents across the UK between the 13–22 May 2025, of which 4,017 consented to taking the survey. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).