Boring playtimes increase bullying

Boring breaks and badly designed playgrounds contribute towards bullying, a charity has claimed.

In a survey of 1,146 children aged between six and 11 years-old, a quarter said they had been bullied in the playground and one in six said they had been bored in the playground. But more than nine out of ten of the children said they enjoyed playtime overall.

Bullying was higher in Wales and Scotland, with 47 per cent and 34 per cent having experienced it respectively. Eight was the age when children were most likely to be bullied.

Catherine Andrews, chief executive of the national school grounds charity, Learning Through Landscapes, said: "A proven solution is to engage them in more stimulating play. Whilst it is said that children will play anywhere, the quality of the experience is undoubtedly related to the quality of the environment.”