Practices and Parental Perspectives on Children's Play in Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Play is recognized as a fundamental right and an essential component of healthy development. However, modern lifestyles and digital media use have transformed children's play patterns. The aim of this study was to describe families' perceptions, practices, and limitations regarding play and parent-child co-play in Portugal.

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire distributed to parents of children aged three to 10 years across Portugal. The survey addressed demographic data, structured activities, digital media use, general play characteristics, co-playing with parents, and parental opinions on play. Data were analyzed using SPSS® v.28.0.

A total of 4637 valid responses were obtained. The median child age was six years, and 53% were boys. Seventy-five percent of children participated in extracurricular activities, and television was the most frequently used digital medium (69%). The most common duration of co-playing during weekdays was less than one hour (46%) and of one to three hours during weekends (43%). Nearly half (46%) reported playing while simultaneously performing household tasks. The main barriers to co-playing were household duties (87%) and work-related constraints (58%). Children with siblings showed less co-playing time during weekdays and weekends. Additionally, children with extracurricular activities showed less co-playing time during the week. Male sex, rural living environment and lower parental education level were associated with increased outdoor play. Parents valued play highly: 100% agreed it supports development, 99% saw it as essential for socialization, and 93% disagreed that school play could replace home play.

Parents in Portugal acknowledge the vital role of play but face time and environmental barriers that restrict opportunities for free, high-quality play. Promoting distraction-free co-play and facilitating safe, outdoor play environments should be a priority in pediatric and public health strategies.