Data on Prevalence of Playground Use Among Children and Efforts to Encourage More Playground Use

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry has plans to (i) collect data on the prevalence of playground use among children and (ii) encourage children to spend more time at playgrounds.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) and the National Parks Board (NParks) develop playgrounds based on the Play Values Framework and Design Guidelines for Nature Playgardens respectively to provide more engaging and diverse experiences at playgrounds within our housing estates and parks. Agencies also implement measures to enhance the thermal comfort of playground users, such as using materials suited for our tropical climate. Through these measures, HDB and NParks would like to encourage children to spend more time at playgrounds.

HDB tracks data on the usage of estate facilities including playgrounds in the five-yearly Sample Household Survey (SHS). SHS findings in 2018 and 2023 to 2024 show that the satisfaction and overall usage levels of HDB playgrounds among households with young children (aged 12 and below) remain high.