MODERN PARENTS prefer clean games to creative play because they want to keep their children neat and tidy.

A poll of 1,000 parents with children aged under four found 63 per cent often avoid activities like painting or playing in the mud because of the clean-up required.

A lack of inspiration and cost were factors most likely to discourage them from initiating creative play, along with knowing their child will do these activities with their nursery or childminder.

While 51 per cent admitted to feeling ‘silly’ or ‘embarrassed’ when doing imaginative play such as dress up or role play, with 36 per cent often doing things with their kids that they would rather not.

The research was commissioned by Busy Bees to highlight that different kinds of play can help promote different aspects of a child’s development.

It has also created a quiz [www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk/busy-bees-parent-player-quiz] to find out what type of ‘parent player’ you are.

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Jenny Shaw, academic lead at the nursery group, said: “Children are learning all the time when they’re playing, and any time a parent spends playing with their child is beneficial to their learning.

“Every parent is different – so it’s natural they will have a preference for one kind of play or another.

"Some thrive off being expressive or letting their little ones burn off excessive energy playing outside, whereas others favour quieter activities such as reading and building blocks."

The study also found three in 10 parents have little understanding of how different kinds of play could help with their child’s development.

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But when it comes to imaginative role play, 52 per cent believe this type of play has a direct impact on their overall learning.

And 55 per cent acknowledge creative play, such as painting and crafts, influences their development in a positive way.

Jenny Shaw added: “Whether it’s learning to take turns in a board game, exploring your emotions in role play or expressing yourself with paints and crayons, play is so much more than fun.

they grow through various types of play – they will learn so much from simply enjoying their time with you and playing.”

While parents tend to prefer them reading books or playing with building blocks, according to the OnePoll study.

More than a third (34 per cent) consider space and mess when choosing which toys to buy and 34 per cent simply don’t have the time to set up and clear away certain activities at home.

And 27 per cent prefer their child to do certain types of play at nursery, with 29 per cent seeing this as more valuable than if they were to do it at home.

Encouragingly, 58 per cent are ‘hands on’ with their child when it comes to play and four in 10 believe doing this brings them closer together.

Busy Bees has partnered with former Strictly stars, Ola and James Jordan, to help make parents aware of the 'play gap' and inspire them to try out different types of play with their children.

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Ola Jordan said: “When it comes to playing with our daughter Ella, my husband James is really imaginative but prefers not to have to clean up afterwards, whereas I’m all about getting out the glitter and sequins.

“Now we know how valuable it is for her to experience different kinds of play, we’ll definitely be broadening how we play with her, potentially taking a leaf or two out of each other’s books when it comes to playtime.

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