Weather fails to put a dampener on “Play Outside Day”: more than 60% of activities to go ahead as planned
Despite the cold, wet and at times windy weather almost two-thirds of the organisers of events due to take place on Wednesday afternoon as part of the annual “Buitenspeeldag” (Play Outside Day) say that their outdoor play activities will go ahead as planned.
School children in Belgium don’t have classes on Wednesday afternoon and every year more than 250 groups from across the 5 Flemish provinces and Brussels organise activities during which children can enjoy playing outside. The organisers of the activities form a network called Goe gespeeld! (Well played).
Cancelled
11% of the groups that had activities planned for Wednesday afternoon say that they no longer believe that it is possible to let their activity take place and have cancelled this year’s Buitenspeeldag.
A further 28% have decided to postpone their Buitenspeeldag activity until a later date. Goe Gespeeld stresses that although it is tempting to stay inside if the weather is cold and or wet “You can still play outside even if the weather is bad. Because isn’t it really fine to jump in puddles, roll through the mud or slide down a hill".
To mark Buitenspeeldag and encourage children to play outside the children’s tv channels Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. (Flemish versions), Ketnet, Ketnet Junior (both VRT), Studio 100 TV en VTM Kids will not be broadcasting between 1pm and 5 pm on Wednesday afternoon.
